From Farm to Bottle
Here are the key details from the article:
- In Illinois, Tilstra siblings Jeff, Julie and Josiah are innovating the traditional farming norms of their family.
- Their farm, named Jalyn Acres after its first-generation owners Jake and Lynelle, sprouts corn and beans but has now expanded to cultivate wheat and barley.
- The Tilstra siblings’ innovation includes creative uses of land and connecting food to alcohol for unique grassroots entrepreneurship.
- The corn and leftover wheat is used in collaboration with Ethereal Confections and Whiskey Acres Distilling to create unique, locally crafted chocolates and beverages
- They also survive the seasonality of farming through on-ground winter camping for additional income.
- The siblings’ passion and perseverance are significant factors behind their success in farming.
The Tilstra Siblings: Innovating Off-the-Cob and Into the Glass
The Tilstra siblings in Illinois are tearing up the farming playbook, popping corn kernels off the cob and distilling them straight into your whiskey glass. Traditional? Not quite. Innovative and impressive? You bet.
More Than Just Cornfields
Who would’ve thought that cornfields nestled in the Midwest could double as flourishing winter campsites? Or that the corn niblets you munch at dinner could simultaneously warm your belly in the form of craft spirits and appease your sweet tooth in ethereal chocolates?
From Farm to Bottle
Moving from the simple cycle of sowing and reaping to the nuance of fermentation and aging, the Tilstras have added a distinct layer of complexity and novelty to their family’s farming tradition.
All hail these plowing pioneers who are sowing whiskey seeds and reaping a rich entrepreneurial harvest. But, regardless of craft beverages, chocolates and camping sites, it all drills down to their unfettered passion. The Tilstra trio is a testament to the earthy truth that diligence, creativity, and a can-do spirit can take siblings from sharing a sandbox to carving out a legacy in the farming soil.
So here’s to Jeff, Julie, and Josiah, who have found a way to infuse a little hooch into our husk. Cheers! Also, who knew that camping in a cornfield during winter could be a thing? Well, put on your warmest undies and grab your mallow stick—it’s time to get s’moring and urban-legend swapping in between the snow-dusted corn stalks. Pass the hot cocoa, please!
- https://www.agweb.com/news/business/succession-planning/next-gen-spotlight-illinois-siblings-capitalize-their-location