A large number of farmers from Europe, especially Germany, immigrated to the United States for a better life. And many of them found it in central Illinois. Among them was the Loschen family — this week’s farm family of the week.
How long has your family been farming? Our family has been farming in this area for around 160 years. Mark and Brian are the fifth generation. Mark’s sons Travis and Brandon and Brian’s sons Brock and Royce are the sixth, and Travis’ kids, Ellie, Arnie and Ronnie, are the seventh.
Where is your farm? Our farm is based just north of Royal, and we farm primarily in Champaign and Vermilion counties and also have one farm in Ford County. How and why did your family come to this area, and from where? Our ancestors came here from the Ostfriesland (meaning East Frisia) area of Germany, which is the northwest part of Germany near the North Sea. They came here in the mid-1800s, from about 1850 through 1870, depending what branch of our family you’re talking about.
They were seeking a better life in America because of a lack of farmland in Germany and because of the religious freedom America offered. They were drawn to the Royal and Flatville area because of the marshy/swampy soil that was much like what they were accustomed to in Germany. They drained the land by digging ditches and putting in drainage tile, and turned it into some of the best farm ground in the world.
What does your operation consist of? We are primarily a corn and soybean operat.