Jay Johnson relates the family farm's evolution from a trucking business shipping grain to river terminals, to the construction of a large grain elevator facility and a grain terminal with the Burlington Northern Santa Fe RR, located on the family property. Jay traces his life from earning a BA degree in finance, to working for a major Chicago bank, to the operation of the grain terminal.
Interview Links
Feature Excerpt
Scale of Option
Abstract
Interview Session 01 (Audio)
Early life in farming, grain production
Interview Session 02 (Audio)
Tour: Growth of rail shipping, train loading
Transcript
Related Materials
AV Barn
See also Illinois State Museums AV Barn
Videos
Photos
Caption
Jay Johnson family photo, 1974. From Left to Right, back row: Joy (sister), Bob Johnson (dad), Jane (sister), Jack (brother); front row: Judy Johnson (mom), Jay and Joni (sister).
Where:
Unknown
When:
1974
Ownership:
Unknown
Caption
Waverly Elementary School photo of Jay Robert Johnson, 1975.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1975
Ownership:
Unknown
Caption
Kelly Lynn Rufa family photo, September 1980.Gary Rufa, Patricia Rufa, Deborah Rufa and Kelly Rufa. Taken at their home in Elmhurst, Illinois.
Where:
Elmhurst, Illinois
When:
September 1980
Ownership:
Unknown
Caption
Waverly High School, senior year, Jay Johnson (#15) playing basketball in 1985.
Where:
Waverly High School
When:
1985
Ownership:
Unknown
Caption
Arial photo of the Johnson family homestead and grain offices in 1987.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1987
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Photo of Kelly's from Illinois State University in 1991 with Jay standing beside her
Where:
Unknown
When:
1991
Ownership:
Unknown
Caption
Photo from the Johnson-Rufa wedding, held on April 23, 1994 at the Christ The King Church in Springfield, Illinois.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
April 23, 1994
Ownership:
Unknown
Caption
Photo of Jay's maternal grandparents, John and Sue Tranquilli, taken at Jay and Kelly's wedding in 1994.
Where:
Unknown
When:
1994
Ownership:
Unknown
Caption
Photo of the Johnson Shuttle, construction dates October 2003 with completion in April of 2004.
Where:
Johnson elevator in rural Waverly, Illinois
When:
Circa 2004
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Photo of Grant, Haley and Jay at the Johnson Grain Shuttle in October of 2004 sitting on an ATV.
Where:
Unknown
When:
October of 2004
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Family photo, taken in 2005, of Grant (son), Jay, Kelly (spouse) and Haley (daughter) seated in the engine of the train at the Johnson Shuttle.
Where:
Johnson Shuttle
When:
2005
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Photo of Haley, Jay and Grant standing atop one of the grain shuttles in 2005.
Where:
Unknown
When:
2005
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
The storage shed under construction in 2005.
Where:
Unknown
When:
2005
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
A bumper crop of corn stretches out from the partially completed storage shed in 2005.
Where:
Unknown
When:
2005
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
A Burlington, Northern & Santa Fe locomotive pulls up a line of grain cars at the shuttle site, circa 2005.
Where:
Unknown
When:
circa 2005
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
The storage shed under construction in 2005.
Where:
Unknown
When:
2005
Ownership:
(Narrator's Photo)
Caption
Johnson family (Back row left to right: Grant Johnson (son), Michael Ryan (nephew), Haley Johnson (daughter), Brady Gray (nephew); Center Row: Grace Gray (niece); Front Row: Ella Gray (niece) and cousins playing in the storage shed in 2005.
Where:
Unknown
When:
2005
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Grain trucks line up to dump their corn at the shuttle facility in 2006.
Where:
Unknown
When:
2006
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Photo of Jay Johnson being honored as the Small Business Person of the Year for Illinois in 2007
Where:
Unknown
When:
2007
Ownership:
Public domain
Caption
Photo of Jay Johnson along with his two children, Haley and Grant, watching the corn being harvested in 2007.
Where:
Unknown
When:
2007
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Photo of the Johnson Grain Shuttle staff taken in 2007 for the small business man of the year award in Illinois.
Where:
Unknown
When:
2007
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Jay Johnson in front of the shuttle operation circa 2007.
Where:
Unknown
When:
circa 2007
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Photo of Jay and Kelly Johnson taken in 2008.
Where:
Unknown
When:
2008
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Photo of the Johnson Grain Shuttle, photo taken in July of 2009.
Where:
Unknown
When:
July of 2009.
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Photo of the Johnson Grain Shuttle, photo taken in July of 2009.
Where:
Unknown
When:
July of 2009.
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Photo of the Johnson Grain Shuttle, photo taken in July of 2009.
Where:
Unknown
When:
July of 2009.
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Photo of the Johnson Grain Shuttle, photo taken in July of 2009.
Where:
Unknown
When:
July of 2009.
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Photo of the Johnson Shuttle, taken in July of 2009.
Where:
Unknown
When:
July of 2009
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Bob (Jay's father) and Jay in front of the grain shuttle operation, circa 2009.
Where:
Unknown
When:
circa 2009
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Photo of Jay's parents, Bob and Judy Johnson, date unknown.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator
Caption
Photo of the Johnson Shuttle before construction of the main facility, date unknown. Note the rail line looping in the background.
Where:
Johnson Shuttle
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Photo of the Johnson Shuttle, construction dates October 2003 with completion in April of 2004.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Photo of the Johnson Shuttle, construction dates October 2003 with completion in April of 2004.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Jay heads to the helicopter.
Where:
Unknown
When:
2005
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
A photo of one of the BNSF cargo trains while stationed at the grain shuttle.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Slight overhead view of hauling semi's waiting in line at Johnson Grain.
Where:
Johnson Grain
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Overhead view of a train procession pulling into Johnson Grain filling up the numerous cars.
Where:
Johnson Grain
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo
Caption
Johnson family photo.
Where:
Unknown
When:
Unknown
Ownership:
Narrator's Photo