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Ben is Melanie's second born son.  Ben lives over an hour away currently, so he isn't available as often as some of the other family members.  Growing up he was often found side by side with Tyler on a hayrack.  Today, Ben is more often found behind the wheel of a tractor or truck during the fall helping deliver grain to the elevator.  Ben was an essential part to the growth of our farm over the past decade.

Bauer Crops & Cattle believes that farming is more than delivering bushels to the elevator and animals to the meat locker.  We believe in working the land and caring for our animals in a way that produces a quality, safe (natural) product for consumers.  Consumers are our customers and people just like us who want the best for their families.  We currently market beef, sweet corn, popcorn, and edamame directly to consumers as well as corn and beans commercially. 
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Our family farm officially began in 2004 when we decided to enter the commercial market. Our family experience in agriculture goes back many generations.  When we started growing our farm we wanted to maintain a family run farm which would allow for us to provide quality products at affordable prices, all while doing it side by side with our family.  Below you can meet some of the family which still works on the farm and learn the roles they fulfill.
Darin, Kale, and Jodi Bauer
Tim and Melanie Bauer

Tim and Melanie are the owners and founders of Bauer Crops & Cattle.  Tim and Melanie have 7 children ages 8 to 25, and 2 grandchildren.  Tim was born and raised on a family farm.  Tim's grandpa, dad & his two uncles raised corn, beans, wheat, oats, hay, dairy cattle, beef cattle & hogs.  God placed a love for the land and animals deep within Tim at an early age.  Caring for animals and working the land has always been a way of life for him.  Working side by side with his grandpa, dad and uncles daily was so valuable and allowed God to develop him into the man he created Tim to be.  Melanie’s parents were the owners and operators of the Farmer City Packers Locker plant.  As a child, she worked with her parents at the plant.  Hard work, quality meats and customer service contributed to a very successful business.  Working with her parents and siblings created a strong work ethic, a love for family and allowed God to make her the woman he created her to be. 

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At Bauer Crops & Cattle, Tim runs the daily operations for the farm.  He feeds the cattle, plants the crops, bales the hay, hand picks the sweet corn, harvests the crops, and so much more.  Tim have such a love for the plants and animals that for him this is more of a dream than a job.  Melanie is the contact person for the farm.  She takes the orders, delivers the products, schedules the meat to the locker, and does all of the bookkeeping for the farm.  Without the extreme dedication of these two, this farm wouldn't be where it is today. 

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Tim and Melanie's children are active in the day to day operations of the farm.  Most of them have dreams and big ideas on how to expand the current venue as well as growing and offering more quality natural products. 

Tyler and Page Eads

Tyler is Melanie's first born child.  Tyler and his wife Page have two children, Mady (8) and Wyatt (5).  All four of them can be found helping around the farm.  Tyler has done a lot of the marketing for Bauer Crops & Cattle the past few years.  He is usually the person reaching out to make new contacts for the farm.  Tyler manages all of the social media, and the website.  He helps with much of the brainstorming for the company and its future.  Whenever possible he can be found throwing hay bales and carrying crates of sweet corn.  Page was raised in a farm family and has a great work ethic.  On occasion she can be found carrying sweet corn crates, but her biggest role comes in marketing and presentation.  When the popcorn jars are being sold with the ribbon, she is the one who is picking out the designs and tying all the ribbons.  Their family looks to be apart of the family farm for many years to come. 

Darin, Kale, and Jodi are the only three children which remain at home still.  The other four are adults and have moved out, but some still stay apart of the farm operation.

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Darin is a 15 year old Freshman at GCMS high school.  When Darin isn't playing football and working out he can be found helping around the farm.  Darin's summer is quite busy between carrying crates of sweet corn out of the field and baling hay.  He enjoys helping by using his strength to get the operations on the farm done as well as possible.  Darin isn't afraid to get dirty and help out.

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Kale is an 11 year old 6th grader at GCMS jr. high.  Kale is definitely a visionary for the farm.  He actually shaped this farm in a big way about 2.5 years ago.  Kale was spending time in prayer one day and he told the family God put something on his heart for the farm.... He said that Bauer Crops & Cattle was supposed to raise popcorn.  This thought had never crossed anybody's minds until that day, but it has sure shaped the farm.  This idea has bloomed into so many different opportunities which can be seen on our locations page.  Kale also helps carry sweet corn and bale hay each summer. 

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Jodi is an 8 year old 2nd grader at GCMS elementary school.  Jodi is the baby of the family, but she loves helping.  When the boys are picking sweet corn, Jodi can be found helping her mother count the ears and inspecting the quality.  On occasion she can be found carrying some ears, but currently the corn is just a little too tall for her.  Jodi loves giving ideas for the farm as well.  At the farmers' market she can be found out there smiling and helping do whatever it is that is needed.

Ben Eads

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