Lessons from the Field: Organic Grain Farmer Panel
About This Session
Hear directly from organic grain farmers navigating the realities of transitioning, managing, and marketing their crops. Our farmer panel will share what’s worked, what hasn’t, and what they’ve learned along the way. Bring your questions — this session is designed to be honest, practical, and useful no matter where you are on your organic journey.
Panelists
Shane Bailey
Shane is the co-owner and operator of Savannah Ridge Farms. A University of Illinois graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Crop Science, Shane began farming in 2006 at the age of 16. Since 2016, he has focused on transitioning their land to organic production, specializing in white corn, soybeans, oats, and hay. Alongside his father and brother, Shane also runs a direct-to-consumer, grass-fed yak meat business, employing rotational grazing practices to ensure animal welfare and sustainability. Shane lives with his wife, Amy, and their six-month-old son, Sawyer, and is dedicated to advancing organic agriculture in his community.
Molly Breslin
Molly Breslin started Breslin Farms, a grain farm with her dad, in 2010 because they wanted to bake bread with their own wheat. The farm, located on family land near Ottawa, Illinois, has been certified organic since 2012. She is currently taking a break from farming due to parenting obligations but hopes to return to it soon.
Vickie Renick
Vickie farms at Randolph Street Farm in Leland, Illinois, managing 15 acres of certified organic small grains. A graduate of our Organic Grain Mentorship Program, where she worked closely with mentor Paul Hoffman, she offers insights grounded in the practical, day-to-day realities of small-scale organic grain farming.
Cost & Access
This webinar is free, supported by the Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP). A Zoom link and reminder will be emailed to all registered participants.
Optional Support
If you value programs like this one, please consider making a donation to The Land Connection. Your support helps ensure farmer training and education remain accessible across Illinois.
About the Series
This webinar is part of the 2025 Organic Grain Winter Webinar Series, a collection of practical, farmer-focused sessions designed to support growers through the organic transition and beyond. Each session features boots-on-the-ground farmers, consultants, and technical experts sharing tools, strategies, and lessons learned from the field. You can register for the full series or choose the topics most relevant to your operation.
Lessons from the Field: Organic Grain Farmer Panel
About This Session
Hear directly from organic grain farmers navigating the realities of transitioning, managing, and marketing their crops. Our farmer panel will share what’s worked, what hasn’t, and what they’ve learned along the way. Bring your questions — this session is designed to be honest, practical, and useful no matter where you are on your organic journey.
Panelists
Shane Bailey
Shane is the co-owner and operator of Savannah Ridge Farms. A University of Illinois graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Crop Science, Shane began farming in 2006 at the age of 16. Since 2016, he has focused on transitioning their land to organic production, specializing in white corn, soybeans, oats, and hay. Alongside his father and brother, Shane also runs a direct-to-consumer, grass-fed yak meat business, employing rotational grazing practices to ensure animal welfare and sustainability. Shane lives with his wife, Amy, and their six-month-old son, Sawyer, and is dedicated to advancing organic agriculture in his community.
Molly Breslin
Molly Breslin started Breslin Farms, a grain farm with her dad, in 2010 because they wanted to bake bread with their own wheat. The farm, located on family land near Ottawa, Illinois, has been certified organic since 2012. She is currently taking a break from farming due to parenting obligations but hopes to return to it soon.
Vickie Renick
Vickie farms at Randolph Street Farm in Leland, Illinois, managing 15 acres of certified organic small grains. A graduate of our Organic Grain Mentorship Program, where she worked closely with mentor Paul Hoffman, she offers insights grounded in the practical, day-to-day realities of small-scale organic grain farming.
Cost & Access
This webinar is free, supported by the Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP). A Zoom link and reminder will be emailed to all registered participants.
Optional Support
If you value programs like this one, please consider making a donation to The Land Connection. Your support helps ensure farmer training and education remain accessible across Illinois.
About the Series
This webinar is part of the 2025 Organic Grain Winter Webinar Series, a collection of practical, farmer-focused sessions designed to support growers through the organic transition and beyond. Each session features boots-on-the-ground farmers, consultants, and technical experts sharing tools, strategies, and lessons learned from the field. You can register for the full series or choose the topics most relevant to your operation.