Contact Us

University of Illinois Extension serving Bureau, LaSalle, Marshall and Putnam Counties

Main Office (Bureau County)
850 Thompson St,
Becker Professional Suites,
Princeton, IL 61356
Phone: 815-875-2878
FAX: 815-875-2870
Email:uie-blmp@illinois.edu
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm (Closed 12 - 1pm)

Branch Office (LaSalle County)
1689 North 31st Road,
Suite 2
Ottawa, IL 61350
Phone: 815-433-0707
FAX: 815-433-5454
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm (Closed 12 - 1pm)

Branch Office (Marshall County)
509 Front Street,
Suite 4
Henry, IL 61537
Phone: 309-364-2356
FAX: 309-364-2804
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm (Closed 12 - 1pm)

News Release

Graze-N-Grow Farm Pasture Walk

August 1, 2012

On Saturday, September 15, 2012, the University of Illinois Extension - Bureau, LaSalle, Marshall, Putnam Unit will be hosting a Pasture Walk at the Graze-N-Grow Sheep Farm of Jim and Ruth Draper from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The featured presenter will be Dean Oswald, Forage/Grazing Specialist at Midwest Grass and Forage in Macomb. Admission is free but we ask that you call to reserve a spot on the tour so we can accommodate all who wish to attend.

This is a great opportunity for those who want to hear about the grass-fed operations at Graze-N-Grow Farm. "Jim has raised sheep all of his life. About six years ago, we switched to Katahdin sheep because there wasn't a good market for wool and these sheep just shed their hair in the field, so we didn't have to hire a shearer. It costs a lot to have them shorn, and we couldn't get a good price for the wool," said Ruth Draper.

The Drapers sell lambs "on the hoof" and deliver them to be slaughtered for their customers. They don't use hormones or antibiotics, which is something their customers like. "We have a very ethnically diverse customer base. We sell a lot of our lamb to the Hispanic, Muslim and Greek population. We're on I-80 and people see our sheep and turn off the road to find us," she said. The Graze-N-Grow Sheep Farm is located at 15722 645 East Street in Sheffield, IL 61361.

Please register by September 7, 2012 with the Bureau County Extension Office at (815)875-2878 to reserve your spot on the tour. If you have any questions please also contact the Bureau County Extension Office.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate please indicate when calling/registering. All programs offered through the University of Illinois Extension are open to all individuals regardless of place of residence, race, creed, national origin, gender, physical or mental disability, or marital status.

The mission of the University of Illinois Extension - Bureau, LaSalle, Marshall, Putnam Unit is to deliver quality, relevant educational information in fiscally responsible manner. The goal is to help people develop skills; solve problems; and improve their families, farms, businesses, and communities. The University of Illinois Extension provides unbiased research-based information to local residents.

You can also register online at https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=7054



Source: Jordan Ellena, Extension Educator, Community and Economic Development (Community Development and Planning), jellena2@illinois.edu