Jacobs' Family Farms
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The History of Jacobs' Family Farms

Our Farming heritage is traced back to 1852 when (Ferdinand Koehn) was born in Germany and sailed to America 17 years later.  In 1886 my great grandfather was born (Paul Koehn Sr.) he farmed in Iowa and then moved to central Illinois to continue farming.  Years later in 1919 my Grandfather (Paul Koehn) was born in Danvers Illinois.  Grandpa grew up learning about farming and agricultural business from his dad and working for neighbors (he had a small custom farming business).  

In his 30’s grandpa married (Minerva Klein) they had two daughters (Sharon & Mary).  Grandpa and Grandma started a fertilizer dealership and trucking company and operated it for many years before selling it (currently called Earlybird Grain & Fertilizer Service). As farm ground came up for sale he would buy it and farm it.  His youngest daughter married Neil Jacobs and the three of them operated the growing family farm for many years.  Neil and Mary Jacobs had 2 boys (Andrew and Jeffrey).  “Us boys” worked side by side with our parents and grandparents learning the farm business.  Both of us love the farm work and told grandpa many times that we wanted to farm for a living.  

As farming changed and machinery got bigger the farming got done faster and we had more time to work other jobs on the side.  Dad started a trucking business and Jeff bought a semi-truck and trailers for himself, and I drove the extra semi-truck and sold seed in the off time.  The trucking business was great for cash flow but we were not at home for family life, so we changed gears and started custom farming.

As grandpa was getting older we asked for more responsibilities, he was willing to let us have them.  Grandpa enjoyed the days of operating machinery and not all the planning and book work that went along with it.  As time went on the family life started Jeff married Claire and I (Andy) married Jennifer both of us have 2 kids each.  Dad still trucks and helps us on the farm, mom is the stand by babysitter, and Jeff and I hired farm help to get everything done.  Even though the previous generations of the family farm are not with us anymore, their spirit still carries on every time a story is told to the next generation.  

Currently the family farm is around 1300 acres (owned and rented) and we will custom plant another 3100+/- for the neighbors.  We also custom spray around 8000+/- acres thru out the whole year, fungicide application over corn at tassel time is a huge part of the acres.  Harvest time is just as busy, most years we cover 3100 +/- additional acres above the family farm acres.  We enjoy the custom farming, but still always welcome the opportunity of land investors or farm managers contacting us to rent/crop share their land.   We feel very blessed with good crops and all the great working relationships that we have made in the past years.  Feel free to contact us with questions, our information can be found at the "contact us” part of the website.

        Andrew and Jeffrey Jacobs
        Jacobs' Family Farms

Jacobs' Family Farms  •  7168 N 500 E Rd.  •  Mclean, IL 61754