An early rain kept many visitors from the Morrison Farmer’s Market on Saturday, July 12, 2014, but others arrived when the weather cleared. Visit “The Best Little Farmers’ Market in Northwestern Illinois” rain or shine each Saturday, in the parking lot behind the Whiteside Court Sevices building, beside Morrison’s Heritage Museum, 202 E. Lincolnway, Morrison, IL.
With half an hour to spare on Saturday, Sarah Schmidt, Morrison, sold the last dozen eggs, She brings several to the Market every other Saturday. Sell-outs are typical for her Clayhill Farm enterprise. If you run out before her next visit, know that she primarily distributes eggs to Mr. G’s Grocery, 214 Washington Street, Prophetstown, IL, and Fulton Meat Market, Inc., 211 11th Avenue, Fulton, IL. With 135 laying hens producing 11 dozen eggs daily, she needs various outlets!
When hens reach between 16 and 22 weeks of age, she stated, they become efficient egg factories for their lifespan. No roosters are allowed on Clayhill Farm, because Schmidt does not wish to breed chickens. Two “broody hens” instinctively want to sit on their nests–to incubate their one egg before it is removed–but Schmidt shoos them away. She has five species: Barred Rocks; Hy-line Browns; plus these three shown left-to-right, black Jersey Giants; buff Orpingtons; Rhode Island Reds.
Her free-range, pasture raised stock are fed no hormones or antibiotics. However, they receive Omega 3 in their flax seed feed. “Calcium helps the shell quality,” she added. Her slogan is, “Taste the difference of fresh.”
Schmidt has sold farm fresh eggs since 2013. Next spring, there will be pasture raised Normandy beef for sale, too. Normandy steers “are rare and docile, and they prodcue good beef. They have [distinctive] black circles around their eyes, to protect them from the sun.” Currently there are only two steers on the Schmidt property. She wants “to do this when I retire.”
Craig (Marilyn) Janssen of Lyndon, IL, bring to the Farmers’ Market fresh frozen meat “all born and raised” on their farm. Their stock includes about 100 hogs and 50 beef stock cows. Like Schmidt, the Janssen animals are fed no hormones or antibiotics.
“We have the [Whiteside] County Health Department’s blessing,” he noted. He will have packaged meat for sale during the Evening Market, so bring a cooler and ice to the event.
Friends of the Parks Foundation returned with their information booth and treats for canines. Susan Jakobs cradled two cuties. Shown left-to-right are Bill McNeal, Barb Benson, Marc Adami, and Bob Brandon.
Boys and girls submitted their names for another FOPF bicycle give-away. The Peters children from Morrison were interested. Kristen, 10, is a 5th grader; Tyler, 7, will begin 2nd grade next month. Brother Cody, not pictured, is 4 and does not attend school. Foundation member Benson stated the group might hold the drawing during upcoming Evening Market on Wednesday, July 30.
There is a location twist to the Evening Market on July 30: vendors will spread along Main Street from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. The street will be closed to cars. The event is sponsored by Farmers National Bank, 1100 E. Lincolnway, Morrison, so there is no cost to participate. Reap the rewards of being a downtown, evening vendor at the Morrison Farmers’ Market.
The deadline for signing up is Wednesday, July 23. Call Corinne Bender at 815-772-3757 for more information.