Arlene Mikrut is a lifelong farmer who was named Peoria County Agri-Woman of the Year for 2004. She and her husband live on her family farm near Kickapoo, where they raise livestock and a variety of crops. Following graduation from Academy of Our Lady in Peoria, Mikrut also worked for an attorney and at a local bank.
She and her husband, Louis, have two grown children.

Tell about your background, schools attended, family, etc.

I was born and raised on our family farm near Kickapoo, located right off Route 150. I still live on that farm today. I went to grade school at St. Mary’s in Kickapoo and graduated from the Academy of Our Lady in Peoria.

I married my husband, Louis, in January 1964. In 1965, our daughter, Christine, was born. In 1968, our son, Edward, was born. We have three grandchildren.

Tell us about your farm: how long it’s been in your family, what kinds of crops and animals you have, etc.

Our farm is a centennial farm, which means it’s been in our family for more than 100 years. My great-grandfather, Heinz, began farming the original 136 acres in 1867. In the 1960s, Central Illinois Light Company approached my parents about purchasing some of our property to build an electric power substation. My mom and dad decided to sell part of the land to CILCO, and we farm around that electrical facility today.

I’m an only child. Not having any brothers or sisters, I developed a great love for all of the farm animals—a love I still have today. I’ve bottle fed orphan calves and baby pigs my entire life.

We continue to raise Angus cattle, originating from the herd my parents began in 1952. Before they started to raise beef, my mom and dad milked Holstein dairy cows. We raise corn, soybeans, and alfalfa hay, but my favorite is the livestock.

The only time I didn’t live on the farm was after I was married; Louie and I lived in an apartment in Peoria. My parents asked us if we would like to build a house on the farm, and six months later, I was back home.

Tell about your responsibilities on your family’s farm. What aspects does your husband take care of?

My responsibilities on the farm are seeing that all the bills are paid, keeping track of appointments, ordering feed for the cattle, and ordering other supplies that are needed. When our cows are ready to deliver, in late winter and early spring, I walk over to the barn, which is right by our home, every two to three hours and check to see if they’re having any trouble with their calving. Usually, the cows give birth without assistance. Infrequently, though—just like with women—something doesn’t happen as expected. On those occasions, I help deliver the calf. If a cesarean is needed, however, I call the veterinarian.

When it’s planting time in the spring, I do most of the tillage of the ground to get it ready for Louie to plant. At harvest time, I make lunches for Louie and my cousin, George Cramer—who helps when needed. I also haul grain to the grain elevator.

My favorite part of each day is checking the cattle to make sure they’re okay. If there are any problems I can’t take care of, I call the Wyoming Veterinary Service for advice or ask them to make a house call.

My husband and I work together with the cattle and the crops. He repairs everything that needs repairing and always comes up with ideas to make things safer and better for us to work with. Besides being my husband, he’s my best friend, helpmate, and lifelong partner.

What made you decide to go back into farming after graduation? How did the farm transition from your parents to you?

After high school, I worked for a Peoria attorney. In January 1959, I started working as a secretary at University Bank in Peoria. I worked there until our daughter was born in 1965. I never returned to “off-the-farm” work again.

Louie worked at Caterpillar, so while the kids were growing up, I helped my dad on the farm. Even today, I still love to witness new life in plants and animals. I still nearly cry every time I see a calf born.

You’ve been involved with your family farm for many years. What changes in farming have you witnessed?

I’ve witnessed many changes in the size and comfort of machinery. We now have air-conditioned cabs on our tractors and combines. We have a planter that plants six rows at a time, rather than the two-row used by my grandpa. While those conveniences are advancements to us, they’re small compared to most farms today using 16-row planters.

Talk about being named Agri-Woman of the Year for Peoria County. What did that honor mean to you?

It started when I was named Agri-Woman of the Month for November 2004 by Proctor Hospital and WMBD Radio. Tricia Braid Terry, agribusiness director for WMBD Radio, called and asked to speak to my husband. She told him someone had nominated me for Agri-Woman of the Month. She asked him to write a resume about me. I was then interviewed on WMBD by Tricia and Colleen Callahan, senior agribusiness consultant for WMBD.

On the first day of the Greater Peoria Farm Show, WMBD Radio hosted its annual awards breakfast. Recognition was given for all WMBD agribusiness events held during the year. Louie and I were invited to attend, but we had already made reservations to go with our cousins to Branson, Mo. They wanted me to postpone the trip for another day so Louie and I could go to the breakfast, but I said there was no way I could ever win that honor, so we left Monday morning.

We were about 100 miles from Springfield, Mo., when my husband’s cell phone started ringing. It was a call from Colleen Callahan, asking him to tell me I was selected Agri-Woman of the Year. When he told me, I couldn’t believe the news. I said it couldn’t be me and started to cry. Colleen said to please keep the phone turned on, as Tricia Braid Terry was going to call to interview me. Our conversation was going to be played at the awards breakfast the following day. When Tricia called, we were in the Bass Pro Shop at Springfield, Mo.

The honor meant so much to me. I still don’t believe it happened; I feel there were so many other more worthy women.

Would you encourage other women to becoming involved in farming? What advice would you give about entering farming as a career?

I would encourage other women to become involved in farming if they really have a love of the land and are solely dedicated to being able to accept all the things God gives us—both easy and difficult.

What are some of the misperceptions people may have about farming?

Misperceptions about farming and farmers are that they only work during planting time in the spring and at harvest time in the fall. They don’t realize it takes a lot of planning just to get a crop in the ground—and then you hope and pray that Mother Nature will give you an abundant crop.

Discuss the life of a farmer. What kind of government rules and regulations must you abide by?

The life of a farmer is very busy. In the spring, we’re doing tillage work to prepare for planting. In the summer, we’re watching the crop to see if it needs to be sprayed to control weeds and insects. We’re also mowing and bailing hay to prepare for the feeding of livestock during winter and early spring, when there’s no pasture grass for them to eat.

After harvest in the fall, farmers are doing the fall tillage work and applying fertilizer. During winter, farmers are ordering new seed for the coming year, attending meetings to keep up to date on new ways to control weeds and insects, and marketing their crop. And those of us who have livestock take care of the animals daily.

Also, the government has an abundance of new rules and regulations to be aware of. Much study and evaluation is required to be in compliance.

Farming as a lifestyle seems to be on the decline. What’s your take on that?

It’s very sad to me that the lifestyle is declining. A farmer with a small farm can’t make a living, so he has to go out and get another job to be able to pay the bills. If he’s married, his wife would also have to work another job. If they have children, their family is in jeopardy.

What’s been the best part about being a lifelong farmer? What do you enjoy most about the experience currently? What’s the most challenging part for you?

The best part is being able to live a lifestyle I dearly love. I was always with my dad—working with him, running machinery, and being his “go-fer” when he was repairing something. I also helped my mom with housework, gardening, and anything else she needed. I guess I just loved being outdoors. Now, since my husband has retired from Caterpillar, he’s a full-time farmer. I still am able to do things I used to with my dad, but now I’m able to do those things with my husband.

One of the most challenging parts of farming for me is working around the weather in everything we do and selling our crops and cattle when the prices are acceptable.

What else would you like our readers to know that hasn’t been asked?

At the time I won, I didn’t know who nominated me for Agri-Woman of the Month; I finally found out it was our friend and neighbor Richard Burns. Thank you so much. I’d also like to thank my husband for writing all of the nice things about me, which, I’m sure, greatly contributed to my receiving this honor. TPW