Interns + Summer Festivities

Abbott’s baptism

Sprayer Operator Cadence

Cadence and Tyson

FSA Office Quote

Bale Pickup Help

Bale Mover Phil

Elisha Homecoming

The Grads

Cora is Illinois Bound! 🧡💙

Miriam is Purdue Bound! 💛🖤

Graduation Party

Sidedressing

45Z Status

Partners & Friends,

This May and June, we welcomed our very first intern to Hess Family Farm! Cadence Monson, from Washington State, is heading into her junior year at the University of Idaho, where she’s majoring in Agricultural Business. During her three-week stay, she got a hands-on introduction to row crop farming in Illinois.

Cadence’s responsibilities were wide-ranging and immersive: spraying, haying, goat care, horseback riding, crop marketing, a combine factory tour, NH3 application, and more. There wasn’t much downtime—she experienced a deep dive into the daily life and operations of a working farm. After graduation, Cadence plans to return to her family’s wheat farm in the Palouse Hills. Her parents are part of the same peer group as Marcus and Shanna, which made the connection even more special.

We encourage any young person curious about farm life to consider spending time at HFF. It’s a great way to build your resume and explore whether farming could be part of your future.

We’ve wrapped up corn and soybean spraying, NH3 side-dressing, and the second cutting of alfalfa. We’ve also completed several construction projects (thanks, Phil!), done some goat breeding, and baled over 500 small square bales of grass hay, along with 50 big squares and many rounds. Machinery maintenance is ongoing, and we’re currently spraying fence rows and field edges. Waterhemp control remains a major concern. As always, we hold off on mowing roadsides until after nesting season ends (July 1).

The Illinois legislature has concluded its 2025 session. Highlights include:

• A $0.14 increase in the gas tax

• Continued support and protection for immigrants in sanctuary cities

• No resolution yet on the state pension fund issue

We’re thrilled to announce we’re grandparents again! ❤️ Elisha Theodore Luecht was born on June 1st and welcomed home by four adoring siblings. Abbott was baptized at Crossing Camp, and our two oldest granddaughters, Miriam and Cora, had a beautiful graduation party.🎉Harper had a great week at the Illinois FFA Convention.

A special thanks to Uncle Phil, who blessed us and the farm with his presence for a few weeks. He was a tremendous help in tackling our project list and managing the labor force.

Fall Prices:

• Corn: $4.13

• Soybeans: $10.06

Soak up summer!

Steve