Farm shop expansion supports growing Illinois farming operation

PRAIRIE CITY, Ill. — Blout Farms, based in Prairie City, has experienced continued growth in recent years, adding more acres and equipment to its operation.

To help accommodate that growth, the third-generation family farm recently expanded its farm shop to provide more space for storing and maintaining its equipment.

“We like to store all of our equipment inside to help keep it clean. We don’t let anything sit outside in the off seasons,” said Bridjet Blout, who farms full-time with her parents, Aaron and Julie Blout. Her grandfather, Armin, recently retired, but still helps out.

The operation now consists of 11,000 corn and soybean acres and five farm shops at different sites in a four-county area of west-central Illinois. The original Prairie City farm shop, measuring 60 by 120 feet, was constructed in 1997.

Morton Buildings recently completed an 81-by-208-foot addition in a T design to the original structure. There are also plans to add an office or break area to the facility.

Blout said the expansion matches the same tan and dark brown color scheme of the original shop.

It features a 20-foot-high ceiling and large overhead and sliding doors to provide convenient access for tillage equipment, planters, combines, grain cart equipment and seed storage. Large windows promote plenty of natural lighting.

Coming Home

Blout, now 28 years old, grew up helping on the family farm and when she enrolled at Southern Illinois University, she wasn’t planning a career in farming.

“I thought I’d be a city person, maybe a dentist,” she said.

But she changed her mind in her sophomore year and switched her major to business administration with plans to farm full time following graduation.

“Now I’m involved with all aspects of the farm, whether that’s running a tractor, washing a piece of equipment or ordering seed and chemicals,” she said.

Blout has also shown a strong entrepreneurial spirit. She purchased her first parcel of land — 40 acres — when she was just 22.

Today she has 1,000 acres, which she owns or rents as part of the family’s total operation. Within five years, she hopes to buy more land to add to her self-owned acres.

“I got an early start in buying land and equipment because I find it important in order to get ahead in life,” she said. “I’m trying to acquire as much land as I can while I’m still young enough to do so.”