Farmland: Continuing a Legacy of Learning & Stewardship

March 17, 2021

On paper, yes – Worrell Land Services is a company that specializes in real estate sales and auctions, farm management, and land appraisals. While that certainly is the list of services we provide, after you get to know us, we hope you start to see the heartbeat behind why we do what we do. It is all about the people… the stories. We have the privilege of working with and for some of the most incredible folks you will ever know. So, rather than keep those amazing stories to ourselves, we want to start sharing some of them with you in a series of content we are calling, “The Stories Behind Worrell Land Services.”

This first story features three intersecting interests of ours and our out-of-state farm management clients, Louise K. Norris Bone and her daughters Jenny Norris Peterson and Kathryn Norris Kirt: a mutual connection with and admiration for 1) farmland preservation 2) Illinois College, and 3) investment in the future of agriculture by building up the next generation of ag leaders. Before elaborating on how those all tie together, please journey back in time to meet a global agricultural leader, George H. Norris, Jr.

About George H. Norris, Jr.
George was born in 1925 and worked right alongside his father while he was growing up. He learned a lot from his father about agricultural practices, taking care of livestock, riding horses, and training dogs. From his mother Hazel Belle Long Norris he learned to play classical piano. After graduating from Jacksonville High School, George went on to the U.S. Army Air Corps and then Illinois College where he graduated in 1948 with a B.A. in Economics. While at IC, George was president of Phi Alpha, a college literary society. He later served on IC’s Alumni Board. George then went on to graduate from Iowa State University in 1952 with an M.S. in Agricultural Economics.

When he was in his late 20s, George purchased the Cass County farm we have been blessed to manage since 2009. Including his mother’s farmland, George farmed about 900 acres total. He raised corn and beans on the whole acreage, and on his own farm he also raised cattle.

George was a volunteer leader in global development pertaining to agriculture. He served on the board of directors for Heifer Project International from 1958 until his death in 1977, except for 1963-65 when he was on staff as Director of the Heifer Project—Peace Corps Program. During this period, he trained Peace Corps volunteers, and visited them regularly in Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador and Honduras. His biggest impact on Heifer Project was suggesting the idea in the 1960s of creating a gift catalog where donors could purchase cows, chickens, sheep, and other livestock to give friends or family members in lieu of more traditional gifts. The gift catalog today produced by Heifer International raises millions of dollars each year for development. The idea was so successful that many other organizations followed their lead, resulting in a huge charitable impact worldwide over the decades.

George also helped Heifer Project International locate and buy a large farm outside of Little Rock, Arkansas to breed animals to send overseas. Today Heifer International uses the farm to help people learn about hunger issues and farming techniques. More information on this can be found at www.heifer.org.

George also served on the board of directors of United Church Board for World Ministries headquartered in New York City.

Farmland Provides A Way to Learn
For the past several years, Luke Worrell has served in an advisory capacity with the newly formed Illinois College AgriBusiness program. Recently, Luke was speaking with the AgriBusiness Department Chair, Professor Jeff Galle, about six students in need of a “Capstone Project.” Professor Galle was looking for a real-life case study that would allow the students to sink their teeth into a wide variety of ag analysis and the possibilities a rural Illinois farm provides. The Norris farm was a logical connection given the family’s deep ties to Illinois College and interest in sustainable agriculture. Louise, Jenny and Kathryn were thrilled their farm could be a canvas for learning. A three-way collaboration was underway!

Over the course of the Spring 2021 semester, Luke has assigned two areas of practical application to the Illinois College AgriBusiness students who will utilize the Norris farm for their case studies. The first project will be to research and make a proposal on the economics and efficacy of various cover crops as a way to retain soil nutrients. Louise, Jenny and Kathryn desire to reduce the chemical usage on the farm and are grateful for the students at George’s alma mater investigating options for how to do that. The second project will be to analyze the economic and operational options for on-site grain storage. Students will make a research-based recommendation whether it is best to construct a new grain bin, install a used one, or rent bin space. Luke is working closely with the students to guide them on these real-life projects they will inevitably face again as they pursue careers in agriculture.

Jenny said, “Our father treasured the land as a gift from God. He studied agricultural economics, and strove to make wise decisions each year in his farming practices. My sister Kathryn and I realize that we don’t “own” the land in its fullest sense. We are stewards of it during our lifetimes. The land is a resource God has placed in our hands, and we want to take the best care of it that we can for future generations while it is under our stewardship. We are thrilled to have IC students assisting us to do the best job possible.”

Kathryn elaborated, “It would be incredible if this project inspires other landowners to look into and try some of these methods, too. I am also very excited for the students who plan to farm and/or help other farmers to be thinking about these ideas at this point in their studies.”

Farmland Provides A Way to Remember
Lest anyone ever think farmland is just dirt, Jenny and Kathryn articulate well that it is so much more. George left this earth much too soon, when Jenny was a freshman in college and Kathryn was only in kindergarten. Being good stewards of the family farm is a way to keep his legacy alive. Kathryn said, “We choose to keep the farm because it helps us feel connected to our father who loved the land and loved farming. We grew up on the farm, and even though we now live in different states it keeps us connected to central Illinois.”

Jenny adds, “Our dad was not only a wonderful father and farmer, but a leader in the world. We were lucky to have him as our father. We just wish we had had more time with him. Having the farm is a wonderful connection to his legacy!”

Louise, Jenny and Kathryn’s active involvement in stewarding their family’s farm allows those memories to stay fresh decades later. Jenny said, “We hope to instill in the next generation a love for the land and desire to pursue excellent farming practices. Illinois College and Worrell Land Services are helping us do that.”

Written by: Allison Worrell, Director of Business Operations