Describes the farming as part of a bigger business involved in retail, land, and entertainment.
FAMILY BACKGROUND
He was born in Belleville, 1972. Grew up in Millstadt, IL. Father, Larry Eckert and mother Judy Lannert from Freeburg. House was grandfathers. Met in grade school. He is seventh generation on the land. Immigrants in 1837 (Johann) from Dietzenbach, Germany, near Frankfurt. Soil and climate here is similar. Settled in St. Labore, IL. Created Darmstadt, IL. Area was easy to access with river. German farm typical with livestock and grain. Had a small orchard. So was Illinois farm. It was common to have an orchard.
