Rader Family Farm

Agri-tourism is becoming a popular activity as the gap between the agriculture community and the urban community continues to grow. Lynn and Linda Rader of Normal, Illinois have realized the need to keep the public informed about agriculture. They are grain farmers but started a pumpkin farm about 20 years ago. Starting out as a small business, that small pumpkin farm has turned into Rader Family Farms which now attracts thousands of people throughout the fall season. The Rader family is known for their tasty sweet corn as they have been selling this crop for years. There is something for everybody whether your interest lies within fresh baked goods, exploring a straw castle, corn maze, or going into a corn silo where children can actually play with the corn, feeding the miniature donkeys, lama, calf, goats, and/or chickens, or finally just enjoying being out in the country among several other activities. The Rader family strives to include the community with their bountiful harvest each year.



The Rader Family

“We have lots of field trips come out. The students have a four section field trip. They get to watch a farm video and eat some popcorn in our little school house which we are calling our ag education building. Every year we’ll add some more educational things. We really want to get some things about the wind turbines in there. We have something about the pumpkins life cycle right now, and we have some agricultural pictures in there. Then they go on a hayride, which is a very new experience for many of them, and they get to see the fields, the corn, the beans, and the pumpkins. They get to pick a pumpkin. Then they get to see several farm animals that we have and then their favorite part they get to play,” Rader said.

The weekend of October 15-16 is Reggie Day at Rader Family Farms. As their two sons graduated from the agriculture department at Illinois State University they were informed of the 100^th year anniversary so they’re partnering up to create a special event for faculty, students, and alumni. Lynn will be making his famous kettle corn to give to all alumni as well. To find out more about this local agri-tourism farm check out raderfamilyfarms.com. Whether you are an ISU student, faculty, alumni, or an ordinary family looking for something fun to do with the kids, Rader Family Farms has something for everyone.



Corn maze in the shape of Reggie in celebration of ISU agriculture

To hear an interview with Linda Rader click here http://www.box.net/shared/h9l6ybdbtp6gq1fap7al