When Rachel left for the Peace Corp, she always planned on returning to the family orchard where she grew up working with her grandparents. She got her first taste of beekeeping while working in Paraguay, South America and little did she know her future husband, who was deployed to Afghanistan would fit their family perfectly. Now she has a passion for pollinators and their role in the orchard.
Up Next in Season 5
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Chad Bell | Illinois Farmer | A Shot ...
Chad Bell, a grain and livestock farmer from Viola, IL, raises corn, beans, wheat, and pigs. When he recently uncovered his grandparents’ handwritten farm journals, he found a powerful connection to his family’s legacy—daily notes on weather, struggles, and innovation. Now, Chad shares both his m...
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Alice Michlik | Birdhouse Coffee | A ...
Alice Michlik, a classically educated East Peoria native, returned home after business school in New York to launch Birdhouse Coffee—an entrepreneurial nod to a beloved local legacy. Her mobile coffee shop is more than a business; it’s a hub for community connection and a platform to spotlight lo...
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Beth Marcoot | Marcoot Jersey Creamer...
Beth Marcoot and her sister Amy run a 7th-generation dairy farm in Greenville, IL, where Jersey cows graze on pasture and are milked with robotic milkers. Since 2010, they’ve been making award-winning cheese and have expanded into Wagyu/Jersey beef, agritourism, and innovative products like Extre...
