With activities spanning Lawrence, Crawford, and Wabash counties as well as Knox County in Indiana, Ivers Farms is a family-run business located in St. Francisville, Illinois. The astounding 11,200 acres of land are mostly used for soybean and corn farming. The farm has gained a lot of fame over the years, thanks to its popular YouTube channel, which provides viewers with a unique insight into the everyday rhythms of farm life on such a large scale. Over 45,000 subscribers watch the various activities take place during the year.
Where the magic comes from
The content’s organized into seasons and episodes throughout the majority of the channel, offering clarity for all those seeking to indulge in only a particular storyline. Each season represents a different period in the farming year, ranging from planting to harvest time, and including operating heavy machinery. The uploads are spaced in a way that delivers a step-by-step account of critical farming activities, making sure that the viewers can get a complete picture of each step in the process from watching a single video. The episodes are also extensively detailed, with each one focusing on different tasks, including tillage, planting, and the maintenance of crops.
The channel presents the viewers with a close look at the machinery used in modern farming, with videos boasting equipment such as the Case IH Pro 1200 Monitor and the 715 Horsepower Case IH Quadtrac Tractor. The vast majority of their episodes demonstrate how such advanced technology aids in precise operations around the farm, thereby fusing their seemingly ancient profession with the most current scientific advances. The content’s thus practical and educational, turning complex agricultural processes into bite-sized chunks that most anyone can follow through with.
That said, the channel’s also famous for how transparent the farming family remains regarding their practices. They never shy away from telling the audience exactly the kind of issues they’re stuck on, which helps them maintain an even stronger connection, as their target demographic’s primarily interested in solving these problems on their own. In the same vein, the channel’s efforts also go towards proper community building, as the family actively engages with their audience in responding to comments, and encouraging everyone to participate.
In addition to standard uploads, the channel boasts a plethora of content formats including quick updates, detailed episodes, and short clips, which ultimately helps ensure that there’s something for everyone, whether viewers prefer a deep dive into farming operations or quick and informative shorts.
Who are the people behind the channel?
The property’s spearheaded by Reese Ivers, who makes the most out of his family’s overall capability to manage the farm’s extensive operations on a daily basis. Their history there dates back to the early 20th century, when Reese’s great-great-grandfather farmed with his 13 children in Indiana. Ultimately seeking better farming opportunities, Reese’s forefather, the youngest of his brothers, moved to Illinois in 1938 at the age of 17. He eventually rented his first farm to begin crafting a life of his own, and by the end of the same year, he’d established Ivers Farms. He initially relied on horses for farming the massive fields, but as technology advanced the property gradually transitioned to using tractors. Starting with an F20, the farm progressed to a Super M and an Oliver 77, eventually adopting John Deere models such as the 410 and 4020.
Reese wouldn’t be able to do much around the place without family members George, Dennis, David and Garrett. While all of these farmhands are indispensable, the family’s involvement in the process extends beyond just the men, as Reese’s mother and other family members had also played significant roles in the property’s history. Over the years they’ve had to deal with myriad tragedies as well, which have left deep and indelible scars on the legacy’s survivors. One particular incident involved David, Reese’s father, who suffered severe injuries after falling from a pontoon boat while carrying his child. David managed to protect his daughter even while enduring significant bodily harm, and returned to farming after a period of recovery. There was also the loss of Julie Irene Ivers, Reese’s mother, killed in a tragic accident, about which there isn’t much information even to this day. It can be said without a doubt that the family, especially its recent generations, have had their fair share of trials and tribulations.
This is part of the reason why they ended up embracing the digital age, in spite of their old-fashioned profession, with Reese deciding to share parts of their complex lifestyle on YouTube in April 2020. The channel rose through the ranks in no time, with viewers appreciating its mostly unique blend of farming insights and family moments. Ultimately, the channel’s success can be attributed to the family’s faultlessly authentic way of tackling life, as well as the genuine portrayal of their daily routines. Finally, the most telling sign that they’re keeping with the times is the frequent use of drones in their footage, allowing for an unparalleled perspective of the dimension of their effort.
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The star of the show
The channel’s most popular upload, entitled “Making a 900,000 Bushel Corn Pile, Enlist vs. Liberty Soybeans and Harvesting in the Mud S2 E32”, opens with the Ivers Farms team working on a Sunday due to dry weather, determined to make the most of their time. They travel from Bridgeport Farm to Flat Rock, dealing with various equipment maintenance procedures, such as lubricating tractor tracks and fixing a belt issue in the auger. Regardless of minor setbacks such as an oil leak and a high-pressure hose problem, the team remains focused and determined to finish what they started.
The footage contains light-hearted moments as well, including Reese finding two girls in the cornfield who want a ride. Then, a touching moment occurs when Dalton’s grandpa, Roy, leaves to take his wife to the hospital, which serves to add to the dramatic nature of their everyday lives on the property, as this isn’t a one-off. The story concludes with the team getting ready for potential rain, and discussing their future plans, praising their trusty equipment and the supportive community for the strength they provide them with.
How much does Ivers Farms make?
Some of the most trustworthy media sources have estimated the total accumulated wealth of Ivers Farms at close to $1 million, from a multitude of sources, such as their YouTube earnings, farm-wide exports, sponsorships, and other endeavors.
some farmers from Sweden stop by yesterday on their way to the national farm machinery show in Louisville. It’s fun to talk to farmers from all over the world. I always learn so much. Dad & I will be at the show today and tomorrow #farmers #sweeden🇸🇪 #nationalfarmmachineryshow pic.twitter.com/kalDtHKJyS
— Ivers Farms (@ivers_farms) February 15, 2023
Social Blade places the family’s yearly earnings from the platform at anywhere up to $15,000, so it can be said with certainty that the majority of their income is achieved through the hard work that allows them to sell gracious yields.
The family has also capitalized on the fanbase to boost their income through a creative merchandise line available on their Shopify store page, their range of branded products both boosts their financial stability and strengthens community ties among their followers. Some of those include logo hats in various styles, sock hats for colder weather with Ivers Farms branding, and hooded sweatshirts.
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