Family farm expanding local farm-to-table efforts

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — From traditional corn and soybean production to specialty products, the expansive range of Prairie State agriculture was showcased with the new “Meet the Farmer” program at this year’s Illinois State Fair.

Knob Hill Livestock of Greenview, Illinois, was featured at the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s tent during Agriculture Day on Aug. 17.

Third-generation farmers, Landon and his wife, Jamie Kirby, along with Landon’s sister and brother-in-law, Natasha and Adam Bacon, raise 80 Hampshire ewes on the family farm. It’s the same farm where the young Kirbys raised their 4-H flock that became a family enterprise.

Today, Knob Hill Livestock specializes in locally raised, all-natural farm fresh lamb. All of the animals are pasture and grain fed while being antibiotic and hormone free. The Menard County farm sells lambs as show animals and as protein in three specialty markets and an online store.

Adam and Natasha Bacon and their children, Kirby Jo and Milo, were on hand to talk about the family farm and answer questions.

“We will be expanding our flock in the near future and we’re also showing Hampshires at the State Fair. This is our fifth time showing. My wife and brother-in-law have been showing here for over 30 years,” Adam said.

“Besides showing, we raise lambs to sell for meat. We process all of the different cuts of meat, leg of lamb, ribs, ground, chops, stew meat, kabob meat, and brats. You can also buy quarter, half or whole lambs from us.”

The lambs are typically butchered when they reach about 150 pound. It takes approximately five to seven months for them to reach that weight.

“We have a website for where meat can be ordered. We also sell to local restaurants and to local retailers. They include Robert’s Seafood Market, Springfield; Apple Barn, Chatham; Bagley’s Meat Market, Edwardsville; we also have local pickup in Springfield at my brother-in-law’s business, Knob Hill Landscaping,” Adam explained.

“We’ve also done the downtown farmers market in Springfield that’s helped us out quite a bit. We also use Facebook. If anyone wants to buy directly from us, they can pick up on the north side of Springfield.”

Natasha said she and her brother started showing sheep when they were about Kirby Jo and Milo’s age.

“My dad had cattle and a neighbor asked us to show sheep. It’s grown from there,” she said.

A member of the audience asked Natasha what were among the challenges the family faces in raising sheep.

“There are a lot of challenges. Obviously, during lambing some of them don’t make it or if you have to bottle you’re bottling every two to three hours for the first few days. A sheep one day can look totally perfect and three hours later be sick and almost die. They can turn real fast on you. That’s obviously disappointing at times. So, Kirby Jo and Milo are learning real quick that it’s not always sunshine and rainbows,” she said.

Added to those regular challenges was getting lambs processed last year during the pandemic and temporary closure of processing facilities.

“Lambing season typically starts mid-December and runs through March, first of April, and it’s kind of a 24-hour job. Obviously, we have a good idea when the ewe is going to lamb within a day or two but we don’t know by the hour so we’re constantly in the barn checking lambs if we’re going to produce and keep as many lambs alive as we can,” Adam noted.

Another question was if they have any problems with predators on the farm.

“We haven’t had a whole lot of problems in the past but we purchased a ‘security guard’ last year. It’s a Great Pyrenees named Jace. During the day he’s pretty lazy and just lays around but when it starts getting dark he’ll start roaming around the pasture and fence line. A dog’s instinct to protect the flock is just cool to me. I’ve seen him run off some coyotes in the past,” Adam said.

He’s looking forward to expanding the operation to meet the growing demand.

“We currently have about 80 ewes and we will be expanding pretty quickly. We have plans put together. We’ve expanded our pasture this year. We’re investing back into the farm, growing the farm on the livestock end,” Adam continued.

“It’s overwhelming sometimes but we’re getting it done. We’re growing. We’ve happy to do it because it’s what we enjoy; it’s what we live for. Our life kind of revolves around the farm.

“Our passion is lamb. A lot of people haven’t tried lamb. We recommend that you try it. Most of the lamb you see in grocery stores in your major super markets is lamb that’s imported from Australia or New Zealand. We offer a farm-to-table type atmosphere. We’re trying to bring that local meat to your table in the central Illinois area.

“We’ve combined our passion of showing sheep and lambs to getting local meat out there.”

There has been a major movement toward buying local and “know your farmer” initiatives and the family has seen growth in demand which is why they’re expanding their flock.

“We want to grow with the industry. That’s something that we’re passionate about — that farm-to-table atmosphere. We want to produce a local product for the people,” Adam said.

“Our children are our showmen and that’s another reason why we’re expanding the flock and be so much involved in it. We believe raising children in this atmosphere they learn responsibility. They’re engaged in the farm.”