Harold and Ross Wilken are the father-son team behind Janie’s Farm and Janie’s Mill, a leading organic grain operation in East Central Illinois. Their shared goal is simple yet powerful: to feed people by growing nutrient-dense, regenerative grains that sustain both the soil and their community.

Their partnership with Iroquois Valley dates back to the company’s founding. Harold was Iroquois Valley’s first farmer partner in 2007. Since then, Iroquois Valley has reinvested in the Wilkens many times, enabling them to expand operations and strengthen their commitment to organic, community-based agriculture. Today, Harold and Ross manage over 4,000 certified organic acres, 1,000 of which are financed in partnership with Iroquois Valley.

The Wilken family’s roots in Illinois agriculture trace back to 1882, when Harold’s great-grandfather began farming with a biodiverse approach long before “organic” was a term. Janie’s Farm began in 2001 after the passing of Harold and Sandy Wilken’s oldest child, Janie. In a condolence letter, Harold was asked by his neighbor, Herman Brockman, to farm his local acreage using organic practices. After 23 years of conventional farming, Harold began the organic journey in his late daughter’s honor. Ross grew up farming with his father, and when he joined the operation full-time, he helped expand the family’s crop diversity and fine-tune soil health practices across their acreage. 

As demand for local, high-quality grains grew, the Wilkens built Janie’s Mill in 2017—the only organic flour mill in their region. The mill processes grains grown on Janie’s Farm and from other regional organic producers, creating vital infrastructure for the Midwest’s expanding organic network. Their partnership with Chicago-area bakeries and chefs helped establish Janie’s Mill as a trusted name in artisan baking known for flavorful grains milled from carefully selected ancient and hybrid wheat varieties.

Harold and Ross are not only farmers and millers—they’re leaders and educators in the organic movement too. They regularly host field days, mentor new organic growers, and share insights at conferences such as Marbleseed, O-GRAIN, and The Land Connection’s Organic Grain Conference. Their outreach has inspired hundreds of farmers to explore organic methods, while their example continues to prove that organic systems can thrive at scale. The Wilkens also serve as strong advocates for organic agriculture nationally. Harold sits on the Policy Council of the Organic Farmers Association and works closely with the Illinois Stewardship Alliance to promote policies that support soil health and farmer livelihoods.

Today, Janie’s Farm and Janie’s Mill provide more than food—they create opportunity. The Wilkens’ farm and mill employ local residents, support beginning farmers, and keep their rural community economically and environmentally healthy. As Harold puts it,

“Young people are often told ‘don’t come back to the farm—there’s no room for you.’ It seems like the goal of many farmers is to eliminate somebody. I want more farmers than there were when I came in. And I see with organics we can do that. Organic farming provides the opportunity to bring in a new generation of farmers because more eyes and hands are needed on a diverse, organic operation like ours.” 

Through their dedication to soil restoration, cover cropping, and diverse rotations, Harold and Ross are ensuring that their land—and their legacy—remain vibrant for generations to come. For them, organic farming is not just a business model; it’s a commitment to healthy soil, healthy food, and a healthy future.