About Nation Farms

History

Nation Farms was started in 1957 by Kenneth and Juanita Nation and has grown to include his son, Bruce in 1981, and his grandson Kenneth Franklin in 2006. Nation Farms strives to provide the highest economic return available using prudent agronomic and environmental farming practices.

Farm Members

Kenneth Nation

Kenny is retired from the day-to-day activities of the farm, however is still very involved. He started farming in 1957, following time spent as a machinist at Allis Chalmers in Springfield, Illinois. He also served in the United States Army as a tank mechanic during the Korean Conflict. Kenny was born in 1933, 11th of 12 children in the small town of Blue Mound in northeastern Christian County. Kenny and Juanita started with very little, however with hard work and strong faith, built the foundation of our family farm. While he claims to be retired, Kenny can always be found working somewhere around the farm. He keeps the grain dryer at his house running in the fall, and helps repair machinery when necessary. Kenny also keeps the roadsides mowed around the farm and keeps a constant eye on his oil well during the summer. Both Kenny and his wife, Juanita, are active in the community. Kenny spent over 20 years on the Christian County Farm Bureau board, as well as many different community and church leadership positions over the 50 years. After retiring from her active farming role driving the grain cart tractor and grain trucks, Juanita spends 2 mornings a week as a volunteer at the Taylorville Memorial hospital. Kenny and Juanita have three children, Karen, Joyce and Bruce. They have thirteen grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren, which Kenny and Juanita visit as much as possible.

Bruce Nation

Bruce oversees the daily operations of the farm. He grew up on the farm and has farmed with his father Kenneth Nation since he graduated from high school in 1981. Bruce takes care of finances and marketing of the farm, as well as overseeing employees and daily farm operations. Bruce is an experienced mechanic and takes special interest in the maintenance of the farm trucks and tractors. Bruce drives the field cultivator, baler, anhydrous applicator, semi-truck and other farm equipment throughout the year. During his career on the farm he has performed all duties of the farm, but now is able to delegate many operations to farm employees and focus on the financial and strategic planning for the farm. Bruce lives with his wife Lori, daughter Hannah and son, Isaac born in 2008. Bruce also has two grown children Neill and Annie. Neill lives in Tovey, Illinois with his wife Erica, and their two children Lewis and Norah. Annie will graduate in the spring of 2010 from the University of Illinois Springfield, with a degree in criminal justice. Bruce is an active member in the Taylorville Moose chapter and has served on many community boards during the past 25 years. Lori is a Girl Scout leader for Hannah's troop.

Kenneth Franklin

Ken joined his uncle Bruce Nation and grandfather Kenneth in the family farm in 2006, after working five years as farm manager for Citizens Financial Advisors in Princeton, Illinois. Prior to his work as farm manager, he grew up and farmed with father, Richard Franklin, in Morrisonville, Illinois. Ken brings with him a Agribusiness Bachelors degree from Illinois State University, and general farm experience with crops and cattle. He operates the planter, sprayer and combine and performs many other daily farm duties. He helps Bruce with crop and financial plans. Ken lives with his wife Jennifer, and son Stephen. Jennifer also grew up on farm near Pana and helps her father, Steve Hoffman, during his busy farm season. She drives a field cultivator in the spring and combine in the fall. Both Ken and Jennifer are active in the community, serving on the Christian County Farm Bureau board and Vision Way Christian School Board, respectively.

Ryan Burman

Ryan began working for Nation Farms in August of 2009. He brings with him over ten years truck driving experience. Including delivery of high-value products in and around the greater Chicago area. He is also an experienced welder, fabricator, and carpenter. Ryan hauls grain, drives tillage tractors and completes most of the necessary welding repairs and fabrication on the farm. Ryan enjoys working on his house and landscaping when he is not helping on the farm. He has a full line of landscaping equipment and has completed several jobs for friends and neighbors during the past several years.