Charles Hartke grew up on the family farm in rural Effingham County. Following military service, he entered the political arena, serving on the County Board before being elected as a Representative to the Illinois House, where he focused on agricultural issues. Hartke served as Director of the Department of Agriculture during the Rod Blagojevich administration. He discusses historic changes in ag, and expresses optimism for its future.
Interview Links
Feature Excerpt
Feeders
Abstract
Interview Session 01 (Audio)
Hartke's early life on the family farm
Interview Session 02 (Audio)
Effingham County politics & service in Illinois legislature
Interview Session 03 (Audio)
Director of Ag & the future of Bio-Energy Sources
Transcript
Related Materials
AV Barn
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Videos
Photos
Caption
Chuck at the age of 2 or 3 in front of his boyhood home.
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Unknown
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Unknown
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Narrator's Photo
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Chuck with his father, Alphonse, his brothers Gerald and Frank, and his sister Pat, in front of a cornfield in the old hog lot.
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Narrator's Photo
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From the left, Frank, Jerry, Mike, Chuck, and Phil in front of a lilac bush by their home.
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Unknown
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Narrator's Photo
Caption
The Hartke's (Charles parents) first home, circa 1924.
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circa 1924
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Narrator's Photo
Caption
The one room schoolhouse where Chuck attended grade school.
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Narrator's Photo
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Jerry (age 2) and Chuck (age 4) on their tricycles.
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1948
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Narrator's Photo
Caption
Chuck's family in front of the house. In the front row, from left, are Pat, Frank, Phil, Chuck, and Jerry. The back row consists of Sally, Mike, Mary Lou, Margie, and Vera, circa 1952.
Where:
Unknown
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circa 1952
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Narrator's Photo
Caption
A group of children in the Plain Tree School Christmas program in 1956.
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1956
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Narrator's Photo
Caption
Chuck standing on Frisky the pony in 1956 or 1957.
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1956 or 1957
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Narrator's Photo
Caption
Chuck with a 4-H heifer in 1959.
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Unknown
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1959
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
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A litter of pigs for a 4-H project.
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Unknown
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Narrator's Photo
Caption
The Hartke brothers. In the front row are Phil and Frank. In the back row are Chuck, Mike, and Jerry with rabbits and bird dogs.
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Unknown
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Narrator's Photo
Caption
Chuck in the farrowing barn.
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Unknown
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Narrator's Photo
Caption
The family on a teeter totter. From front to back are Frank, Chuck, Pat, Jerry, Sally, Marge, Vera, cousin Mary Kay, and Mary Lou.
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Unknown
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Unknown
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Narrator's Photo
Caption
The Hartke family. In the front are Mike, Frank, father Alphonse, mother Sophia, Chuck, and Phil. In the back are Elvira, Pat, Jerry, Mary Lou, Marge, and Sally.
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Unknown
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Unknown
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Narrator's Photo
Caption
Chuck speaking at the University of Illinois.
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University of Illinois
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Unknown
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Public domain
Caption
Chuck and Kathy at their high school graduation in front of Kathy's parents' home in May of 1962.
Where:
front of Kathy's parents'
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May of 1962
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Representative Monroe Flynn, Senator Ken Hall, Senator Alan Dixon, Norma and Sen. Bill O'Daniel, and Chuck.
Where:
Unknown
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Unknown
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Narrator's Photo)
Caption
Chuck (on right) with comedian Paul Paulsen of the Smothers Brothers who ran for President as a joke in 1968.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1968
Ownership:
Public domain
Caption
Chuck with Harold Washington, the mayor of Chicago, in 1985.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1985
Ownership:
Public domain
Caption
An advertisement for Chuck's invention, Flip-N-Feed.
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Unknown
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Unknown
Ownership:
May be restricted. Source citation is unknown. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator
Caption
A newspaper article in the Teutopolis Daily News featuring the Hartke family entitled "This Farmer is also a Lawmaker." In the bottom left photo are Chuck, his daughter Kimberly, and his wife, Kathy.
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Unknown
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Unknown
Ownership:
Source citation is provided
Caption
Chuck explaining sow gestation to Representative Bill Black, Sharon Black, Rep. Ralph Barger, and Jack Schultz during a Legislative Farm tour in 1986.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1986
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
A photo of a barn on the Hartke property.
Where:
Hartke property
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo