URBANA, Ill. - “This farm has quite a story,” said Kim Kidwell, dean of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, speaking to a gathering of friends this past week who had come together to celebrate a family farm—a legacy farm—that has supported Illinois youth for decades.

That farm is the 120-acre Warren family farm located in Piatt County, Illinois. The legacy of the Warren family started in 1955, when Elizabeth Warren gifted 40 acres of farmland to the University of Illinois as a memorial to her family. The intention of the gift was to support and promote Illinois 4-H and other youth agricultural programs, as well as long-term research. In 1996, an additional 80 acres were added to the gift from the estate of Milton W. and Claradine Warren, as a memorial to Milton and his sister, Anna May Warren.

Since then, countless Illinois youth have benefitted from the generosity of the Warren family, through proceeds from the farm.

Kidwell said of Elizabeth Warren’s 1955 gift, “She was a pioneer, for sure. People weren’t doing things like this back in 1955. I don’t know how she had this idea, but it’s pretty spectacular that she decided that this is what she wanted her legacy to be. I have to thank [the family] for being so forward thinking.”

Dwight Huffstutler, great-grandson of Elizabeth Warren, continues to farm the land and was on hand for the celebration, sharing stories about the family’s relationship with Illinois Extension and Illinois 4-H over the years.

“[The Warrens] were big believers in kids, in 4-H and in agriculture, and they thought this would be a good way to pass it on,” Huffstutler said.

Kidwell added, “Dwight is an ancestor of the folks that gave [this gift] to us. He’s leasing this land and farming it, and the proceeds we receive go to fund 4-H activities in the area, which makes it really special. When we can use gifts of farmland in a way that helps sustain what we do in the college to support our communities, it’s a really beautiful story.”

Income from the Warren Farm has been used to attract new youth to 4-H, share the 4-H brand, and help youth to explore areas of interest. Recently, funds have specifically supported SPIN Club grants and Club and Innovation Grants.

Many youth begin their 4-H experience because they’re passionate about a specific project area and want to learn as much as possible about that single project. These youth often join a 4-H special interest (SPIN) club where they master skills in areas they are most passionate about. They still have leadership, service, teamwork, and growth experiences, but the focus is on one project they study during club meetings.

“We are trying to reach youth in news ways. One way to do that is through our SPIN Clubs. It’s just us [4-H] trying to meet the needs of youth,” said Jamie Boas, an Illinois 4-H youth development educator.

Popular special interest clubs include robotics, drones, livestock, cooking, photography, leadership, visual arts, and sewing projects. Often, special interest clubs require specialized equipment that may be beyond the ability of families to purchase. Illinois 4-H Foundation grants have helped supplement equipment costs to start these new 4-H club opportunities.

Some of the local 4-H youth who have benefitted from the farm’s proceeds through their own 4-H clubs were at the celebration to see the farm operation firsthand and talk about their experiences.

As a 4-H teen teacher, Corissa Godbee, 15, has taught sessions in agriculture, STEM, art, gardening, and cooking in Farmer City, not far from the Warren farm. “I have a lot of interaction with kids, and we get to learn a lot about food, science, and art [through] a bunch of different activities,” Godbee said.

Throughout its 150-year history, the University of Illinois has been the grateful beneficiary of many gifts of farmland, and the College of ACES currently receives income from 6,100 acres of donated farmland held for its exclusive benefit. Income from the ongoing successful operation of a gifted farm serves as a perpetual funding source for the college’s land-grant mission.

“I think gifts like these are spectacular if you want to have a long-term commitment to making a difference,” Kidwell said. “We can frame a gift agreement with anybody, in any way, that works for them. We can keep the ground and use the proceeds we get from leasing it to fund different types of activities, scholarships for students, operations for a farm, or for a faculty member.”

For more information about supporting the University of Illinois through gifts of farmland, contact the College of ACES Office of Advancement at 217-333-9355 or acesadvancement@illinois.edu.

Watch a video of the Warren farm celebration at https://go.illinois.edu/warrenfarmvisit52019.

Source: Kim Kidwell, kkidwell@illinois.edu
News writer: Stephanie Henry, 217-244-1183, slhenry@illinois.edu
May 22, 2019