by Jim Ridings

A national magazine features a Herscher area farm family in its current issue.

A six-page story on the Dennis and JoAnn Dickman farm, with eight full-color photographs, is in the August-September 2010 issue of Farm & Ranch Living magazine, published by Readers Digest Association. The story is written by JoAnn Dickman.

The Dickmans have been nationally-known for several years for their organic-raised chickens. The eggs and meat from their chickens are a result of their “pastured poultry.” Their chickens are fed grass, which is a natural detoxifier. This limits their season from April to October. The Dickmans produce about 5,000 chickens a year for meat, in addition to the chickens that produce quality eggs.

The Dickmans have been famous for their sweet corn. They also raise corn, soybeans and have a variety of animals on their farm.

Dennis and JoAnn have been married for 51 years. Extensive back surgery a few years ago has hampered Dennis a little. But the Dickmans still maintain a grueling schedule from before sun-up to after sundown.

They participate in farmer’s markets three times a week, in Kankakee, Morris and Yorktown Mall at Lombard.

Part of this includes making, and selling, 30 pies a week. JoAnn makes the pies, vacuum-seals them and freezes them. But she doesn’t bake them. The buyer takes them home and bakes them, which makes for a much fresher pie.

As if this isn’t enough work, the Dickmans also present seminars on the benefits of organic farming. In the past few years, two seminars held on their farm attracted more than 200 people each time.

And there is the usual fixing, painting, repairing and other work needed in maintaining and running a farm.

Fresh eggs, chicken and corn is available for sale at their farm at 6480 S. 14000 West Rd., southwest of Herscher.