Russ, a grain and swine producer since graduating from the University of Illinois, returned to the family farm and used revolutionary hog diets and developed hog confinement with the hog slat floor. Mary Jeckel also reflects on their life on the farm.
Interview Links
Abstract
Interview Session 01 (Audio)
Russ & Mary Jeckel discuss their careers as a hog farmers.
Interview Session 02 (Audio)
Scott and Russ give a tour of a hog confinement facility.
Transcript
Related Materials
AV Barn
See also the Illinois State Museum's AV Barn
Videos
Photos
Caption
Russ Jeckel (on the right) with his father John in 1944.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1944
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
John Jeckel works with electrical fencing around a-frame hog pens in 1953.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1953
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
The USS Pensacola, the ship Jeckel served on in the South Pacific during WW II.
Where:
South Pacific during WW II
When:
June 29, 1945
Ownership:
Public domain
Caption
A Logan County Pork Producer's cookout in the early 1960s. From left to right are Bob Wertheim, Russ Jeckel, unknown, unknown ("Monkey"), Albert Gelbahl and unknown.
Where:
Logan County Pork Producer's
When:
1960s
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Russ and Mary Jeckel with the Illinois Pork Queen in the mid 1970s.
Where:
Fighting Illini Pork Club
When:
1970s.
Ownership:
Public domain
Caption
Russ presents a ham to Governor Otto Kerner at the Illinois State Fair in 1965.
Where:
Illinois State Fair
When:
Illinois State Fair in 1965.
Ownership:
Public domain
Caption
Aerial view of the Jeckel farm taken in the late 1970s.
Where:
Jeckel farm
When:
1970s
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Jeckel's dairy barn is used for farrowing pigs, circa 1951.
Where:
Jeckel's dairy barn
When:
1951
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Jeckel's farrowing operation, photo taken in the early 1990s.
Where:
Jeckel's farrowing operation
When:
1990s
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
A hog farrowing barn in the late 1990s.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1990s
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
A more modern finishing barn in the late 1990s.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1990s.
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
An outdoor farrowing shed, circa 1952.
Where:
Circa 1952
When:
1952
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Outdoor farrowing sheds in 1962.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1962
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Pigs in a finisher shed in 2000.
Where:
Unknown
When:
2000
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Sows and pigs in a modernized facility, in the late 1990s.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1990s
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Russ and Mary Jeckel at the time of the interview in May 2008.
Where:
Unknown
When:
May 2008
Ownership:
Public domain
Caption
University of Illinois Award of Merit awarded to Russ Jeckel in 1971.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1971
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
National Hog Farmer award given to Russ Jeckel in 1973 at the National Pork Congress.
Where:
National Pork Congress
When:
1973
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
The Ford Farm Efficiency Award was awarded to Russ in 1975.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1975
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
The Bloomington Pantagraph named Russ Jeckel its Outstanding Farmer in 1978.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1978
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Mary Jeckel received the Illinois Pork Producers Association with its Porkette Award in 1982.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1982
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Mary Jeckel received the National Pork Council Women's Recognition Award in 1988.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1988
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Russ and Mary Jeckel were inducted into the Pork Industry "Hall of Fame" in 1996.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1996
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
The Jeckel's are recognized as Master Farmers.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo