A Farming Legacy Moves to the Midwest

Photo Back Row: Bonnie and Joe holding their grandson, Brooks. Photo Front Row: Tamren, holding Grant, Jack, Austin holding their daughter, Lonna

Moving a household is always a daunting task, but relocating multiple households in a multi-generational family and a commercial row-crop farming operation nearly 900 miles away seems downright impossible. Yet, that’s exactly what father-son duo Joe and Austin Terhune set out to do.

While the decision to uproot their lives and livelihood from Texas to the Midwest was far from easy, both Joe and Austin had their sights set on the future and how this decision would benefit their family in the long term.

A Century of Farming History

The Terhune’s family roots run deep in Texas. Joe Terhune shared their history with pride: “Our family moved to Ochiltree County in 1924. My namesake ironically moved the last four of his ten kids… to Ochiltree County and bought four sections of ground, setting them all up to farm. Our family was there for 100 years. 1924 was the first crop, and 2023 was the last crop before we relocated to Illinois.”

Austin echoed his father’s words, elaborating on their deep roots in Texas. “Ultimately, you know, my family’s been there for nearly 100 years,” he explained. “My wife’s parents, grandparents were all from this town as well. We had lots of friends and our church… several relatives around.” With deep family roots, and nearly a century of farming history in north Texas, the Terhune’s were settled in their home. But as Joe and Austin started to think about the future and what their family farming operation would look like someday, they knew that some big decisions were going to have to be made.

Photo: Austin and Joe on their farm in Edgar County, IL

A Difficult Decision to Move

Tamren Terhune, Austin’s wife, recalled the moment Austin first mentioned the idea of moving: “I don’t think I could forget that conversation… He comes in, and he said, ‘I had a really interesting conversation with my dad… What would you think if we sold the farm and moved somewhere in the Midwest?’ And at first, I was like… that’s crazy. Why would we ever do that?’”

‘Why move’, really was the ultimate question. For nearly a century, the Terhune’s had weathered the challenges of farming in a region known for its arid climate and reliance on irrigation. However, Joe and Austin saw some concerning signs on the horizon. “The reason we moved is we just decided that long term the prospect of being able to raise corn was greater in the Midwest than in the High Plains. There are some water issues that are starting to show up on the horizon, and we wanted to just kind of get ahead of that,” Joe explained. The decision to move was also driven by a desire to ensure that the family’s farming legacy could continue for generations to come. “For us, this whole idea of relocating had to do with legacy and passing it on to not only my generation, the generation to follow me, but even future generations after,” Joe added.

Tamren also joked that after her initial resistance, she quickly realized the importance of the move for their family’s future. “I was pretty resistant for about three minutes; I think that’s about all it took.” The timing also played a significant role, as Austin and Tamren’s children are young enough that they believed the move would be less disruptive if they did it now.

With their minds made up, Joe and Austin moved into the next step – finding the right farm.

The Search for the Right Property

The Midwest had always been the Terhune’s destination of choice, but finding their “glass slipper” farm proved to be a challenge. After scouring the web and visiting several properties all over the Midwest with no real success, a handful of phone calls and a personal meeting changed how the Terhune’s were going to approach their search – and they formally enlisted the help of Hertz Farm Management, Inc. to aid them in their search. 

Doug Hensley, President of Hertz Real Estate Services, explained how the Hertz team was well-equipped to lead the Terhune’s on this unique project due to the large footprint of the company in the Midwest. “Anytime we have a client that has a large acquisition need, where we can engage the mechanics of the entire company, we’re going to engage. And that’s one of the distinct advantages I think we can offer families like the Terhune’s. In comparison to many firms, we have ‘long arms’ in the countryside because we have eyes and ears throughout the Midwest.”

Photo from Left to Right: Spencer Smith, Joe Terhune, Austin Terhune and Doug Hensley

Spencer Smith, a Hertz Farm Manager in Monticello, IL, who helped find the farm the Terhune’s eventually purchased, echoed Doug’s comments, highlighting the importance of teamwork to find the right property for the Terhune’s. “The boots on the ground folks within Hertz really kept an eye out for those properties,” he explained. The Terhune’s farm in Edgar County, Illinois, was found thanks to this collaborative effort.

The decision to settle in Illinois was solidified when Austin and Joe visited Edgar County. “We turned in the lane and kind of looked at each other and just kind of said this is good stuff. This may be the place,” Austin said.

For Tamren, seeing the Illinois farm for the first time was a pivotal moment. “As we were coming up and just driving down the highway... you’re looking left and you’re looking right and you’re just looking at this amazing, tall green corn, these beautiful, lush beans... and there’s not a single pivot sprinkler anywhere. It’s just a farmer’s dream.”

Building a Legacy for the Future

While the move itself provided numerous challenges, from transporting equipment to building new homes and farm infrastructure, Austin kept his sight set on the end goal. “It was a sprint to try and pack everything up and get going, but then you realize, hey, this is more of a marathon,” Austin said.

Joe and Austin were fortunate that while the family was busy moving, the former tenants of the farm they acquired in the fall of 2022 agreed to continue farming the property through the 2023 crop year, thereby alleviating the pressure until the family was able to get moved and more fully settled.

The move has not only been successful but also rewarding. “For Bonnie and me, what we like most about living in Illinois is the happy corn, the happy beans, and the happy family,” Joe said. The first crop they personally planted in Illinois in 2024 has been thriving, and the family is optimistic about their future in the Midwest.

The Terhune family has found the transition smoother thanks to the welcoming nature of the local community. They feel Edgar County residents have shown incredible hospitality, embracing them and sharing their lives with open arms. With time, the Terhune’s feel they are establishing roots here and are excited to see those roots grow deeper with each passing year.

The journey from Texas to Illinois was filled with challenges. But, it was also marked by faith, determination, and the support of a dedicated team. As the Terhune’s re-settle their roots, they are not only continuing a legacy that began over 100 years ago, they are also creating new opportunities for generations to come.

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