Title Page & Abstract
An Interview with John H. Ackerman
Part of the Illinois State Museum’s and Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library’s Oral History of Agriculture in Illinois
Interview # AIS-V-L-2008-048
John Ackerman, a farmer and operator of various farm product shops, was interviewed on the date listed below as part of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library’s and Illinois State Museum’s Oral History of Illinois Agriculture Oral History project.
Interview dates & location:
Date: January 29, 2007 Location: Morton, Tazewell County, Illinois
Interview Format: Digital audio / Digital video
Interviewer: Robert Warren
Technical Support: camera, Doug Carr
Transcription by: Tape Transcription Center, Boston, MA
Edited by: Michael Maniscalco, Amy Moore
Video Indexed by: James Oliver
Total Pages: 32 Total Time: 92 minutes / 1.53
Accessioned into the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Archives on 11/20/2009.
Interviews are archived at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield, Illinois.
© 2009 Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
Abstract
John H. Ackerman, Oral History of Illinois Agriculture
AIS-V-L-2008-048
Biographical Information / Overview of Interview: John Ackerman was born on January 6, 1961 in Peoria, Illinois. He grew up on the small farm where his father (Clyde) and uncle (Ray) had been born. The farm was typical of many in the area at that time, raising hogs, beef cattle, corn, soybeans, and alfalfa. John was active in 4-H and FFA, and later studied Agricultural Economics, Meat Science, and Animal Husbandry at the University of Illinois. After graduating in 1983, John returned to the farm to work with his father. It was a tough year to start farming, with a summer drought and record cold temperatures in December. John faced more difficulties in the 1980s and 1990s, and he decided that the farm operation would have to change if it was to survive. He grew pumpkins for the nearby Libby’s canning factory, and then began raising many different varieties of ornamental pumpkins and gourds. Based on customer suggestions, John and his wife, Yvette, also started marketing chrysanthemums, apples, and seasonal decorative items. They opened the farm to agritourism, transformed an old farm building into a seasonal gift shop, and added a petting zoo and corn maze. Yvette also created a second shop in downtown Morton, which operates year-round. Ackerman Farms could serve as a model of how small family farms can survive by diversifying and developing niche markets.
Keywords: Ackerman Farms; family farm; small farm; Yorkshire hogs; Hereford beef cattle; horses; chickens; goats; ducks; peacocks; turkeys; pheasants; corn; soybeans; alfalfa; fresh-cut flowers; sweet corn; Dickinson pumpkins; ornamental pumpkins and gourds; chrysanthemums; apples; strawberries; hot peppers; Roma tomatoes; blueberries; orchard; garden; chores; Methodist Church; University of Illinois; drought; severe cold; niche farming; Libby’s pumpkin canning factory; gift shop; farm labor; agritourism; petting zoo; corn maze; school tours; hayrack ride; drainage; special equipment; enterprise analysis; conservation; no-till agriculture; gender roles; economy of scale; farm failures; barn demolition; Web site (www.ackermanfarms.com).
Note to the Reader: Readers of the oral history memoir should bear in mind that this is a transcript of the spoken word, and that the interviewer, interviewee and editor sought to preserve the informal, conversational style that is inherent in such historical sources. The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library is not responsible for the factual accuracy of the memoir, nor for the views expressed therein. We leave these for the reader to judge.
COPYRIGHT
The following material can be used for educational and other non-commercial purposes without the written permission of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library. “Fair use” criteria of Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976 must be followed. These materials are not to be deposited in other repositories, nor used for resale or commercial purposes without the authorization from the Audio-Visual Curator at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, 112 N. 6th Street, Springfield, Illinois 62701. Telephone (217) 785-7955