Author: Nora Chovanec

Farm Profile: Johnson Family Farm

Written by Nora Chovanec on February 10, 2025. Posted in Farm Profile.

FARMERS: Rick & Corey Johnson LOCATION: Will County, IL SIZE: 1,430 Acres JOINED OUR PORTFOLIO: 2018 FARM STORYRick and his son Corey are fourth and fifth-generation farmers in the heart of Illinois corn and soybean country, just south of the expansive Chicago suburbs. Together, they manage 1,430 acres of row crops, with 940 of those acres financed in partnership with Iroquois Valley. Of that, 420 acres are organic, while 520 are transitioning to...

Farm Profile: Meadowlark Organics

Written by Nora Chovanec on February 6, 2025. Posted in Farm Profile.

FARMERS: The Wepkings LOCATION: Ridgeway, WI SIZE: 700 Acres JOINED OUR PORTFOLIO: 2018 FARM STORYJohn and Halee Wepking of Meadowlark Organics are young farmers committed to cultivating a regenerative ecosystem by growing real food. Mentored by the late Paul Bickford, John and Halee focus on specialty grains like spelt, rye, and milling wheat, and are building a mill to process grains in-house. Paul Bickford farmed with John...

Hands holding three eggs of varying shades of brown against a dark background. The person is wearing a blue shirt.

Shop with Iroquois Valley Farmers

Written by Nora Chovanec on January 7, 2025. Posted in Investment News.

Our farmers offer a wonderful array of certified organic goods available locally and nationally. New this year, you can visit our website to explore their unique offerings. From deluxe pancake kits with stone-ground artisan flour to aromatic goat milksoap to community-supported stewardship agriculture shares, you will surely find the perfect gift for everyone on your list. And don’t forget — good food makes for great gifts! Photo credit: Mint Creek Farm CLICK HERE TO EXPLORE FARM...

Farm Profile: Central Grazing Company

Written by Nora Chovanec on December 3, 2024. Posted in Farm Profile.

FARMER: Jacqueline Smith LOCATION: Lawrence, KS SIZE: 80 Breeding Sheep JOINED OUR PORTFOLIO: 2022 FARM STORYJacqueline Smith founded Central Grazing Company in 2015 on the premise that all livestock deserve a good, peaceful, humane life. After working for many years co-running a sustainable sheep dairy, Jacqueline pinpointed gaps in restorative land management supply chains. While the ewes raised for milking and breeding were treated humanely, there was...

A family of four stands in a vast wheat field under a cloudy sky. The father holds a young child in pink, while the mother stands beside him with a young child in blue. Both parents wear casual hats and smile at the camera.

Join us in Supporting the Healing Soils Foundation

Written by Nora Chovanec on November 19, 2024. Posted in Investment News.

Photo credit: Meadowlark Farm and Mill Now more than ever, it is imperative to remember that our planet and our farmers need your support. To more directly meet the needs of organic and regenerative land stewards, Iroquois Valley’s charitable affiliate, the Healing Soils Foundation, provides grants directly to farmers to help transition, build, and scale climate-resilient farms in our portfolio and beyond. Since its founding, Healing Soils has awarded nearly $1 million in...

A landscape with a fence in front of dry grass and shrubs, and a mountain range in the distance. The text reads "Iroquois Valley Farmland REIT's Our New Investment in Diamond E. Ranch, home to premium grass-fed beef.

Press Release: Preserving 22,000 Acres of Critical Arizona Habitat in Partnership with Rancher Cindy Tolle

Written by Nora Chovanec on October 1, 2024. Posted in Investment News.

We are excited to announce our latest investment with longstanding Iroquois Valley rancher Cindy Tolle in Cochise County, Arizona, at Diamond E. Ranch. Cindy (a biologist and environmental chemist), her family, and her team, Steven and Angie Terrell, are land stewards with decades of ranching experience across the West. Their multi-generational endeavor has US ranch hubs in the Midwest (267 acres in Missouri, 443 acres in Kansas) and the Black Hills (1,700 acres in South Dakota). This...

2023 Public Benefit Report: Reflecting on a year of strategic planning, growth & conservation

Written by Nora Chovanec on September 3, 2024. Posted in News & Media.

As we transition into fall and begin to plan for the coming year, it is important to reflect on all that Iroquois Valley has accomplished thus far. Our team recently finalized our 2023 Public Benefit Report and is excited to share it with you. We will build on the success described in the report in the months and years to come. We hope you will join us in recognizing the accomplishments of our farmers, staff, and board, all made possible by the steadfast support of our...