The children were active in 4H, FFA, and sporting activities. Rick (Amandina)- University of Illinois Graduate, Peace Corps member, is teaching his final year at United High School teaching Spanish; He is also the book keeper for the farm and helps drive the bailer and haul in on square bailin days. Robbie (Moses)-Carl Sandburg College Graduate, has enjoyed a successful nursing career and is prese
ntly employed at Gastrointestinal Specialists. Tom (Wendy)- Western Illinois Graduate, AGR member, Livestock Judging Team, employed at Prairie State Select Sires for 28 years where he serves as sales rep and beef coordinator, still owns a handful of cows and is involved with farm. Terry (Meredith)- Western Illinois Graduate, AGR member, Livestock Judging Team, Co-managed with Bob until 2000, Farm Manager from 2000 to present. Polly (Don)- Monmouth College Graduate, has enjoyed a successful teaching career and is currently employed at Mercer County Elementary School. There are 15 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren, many who enjoy spending time at Bob Jon Farm on weekends and holidays. Drew (Terry & Meredith's son)- Monmouth College Graduate, studied business, joined Bob Jon Farm in 2009 as a 3rd generation Angus breeder. After Bob's death in 2000, Bev married family friend, Wayne (Gube) Johnson, and they currently split their time between Alexis, IL. They enjoy hearing success stories of Bob Jon cattle and occasionally running errands for daily operations. Bob Johnson purchased his first purebred Angus cattle in the mid 1960's. A main influence to Bob Jon Farm was Erdmann Angus Ranch in Aberdeen, South Dakota. At that time, Erdmanns were at the top of the Angus breed. Bob was a very close friend of Leroy Erdmann, traveling 2-3 times a year to South Dakota to study bulls and cow families. Bob appreciated the number of cows, strong cow families, and the sharp profiles that the Erdmann cattle possessed. Patternmaker (another Erdmann bred, purchased sire) was a featured sire in the first production sale at Bob Jon Farm held in 1980. In the mid 1980's, Bob Jon shifted to selling our cattle privately. Bob purchased a bull named Premier Corrector from Premier Angus at Les Reel's farm in Congerville, IL. Over a 5 year period, Corrector sired multiple Angus state fair champions in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Ohio. Premier Corrector's success have helped Bob Jon market top-end heifers and steers to the present time. From this time on, we have privately sold approximately 40 bulls yearly to commercial and purebred breeders. Year in and year out, our top-end heifers and Angus steers have gone on to compete successfully. Packaged groups of heifers are marketed yearly. Bob always maintained strong cow families and cattle that had eye appeal, good performance, and sound structure. In the mid 1980's, Terry (Moose) took a handful of cows that were designated for sale. The prospective buyers requested them bred club calf; later those buyers were unable to complete the sale. Subsequently the first crossbred calves born on the farm sold for an eye opening price. From that time on, Moose has hand mated and bred a select group of cows club calf resulting in many success stories including 3 state fair champions as recent as 2010 Missouri State Fair Champion sired by Dirty Harry and shown by Callie Mawson, along with many repeat customers year after year. The success of our purebred Angus cattle have directly led to our success in the club calf business. As Bob Jon Farm moves forward, there will be a strong commitment to raise the best purebred Angus cattle, while continuing to improve our EPD's without sacrificing eye appeal, and Moose to maintain his ranking as a top club calf producer in the Midwest. We will continue to hand mate and A.I. to the top sires in the country to meet these goals. Moose, Drew, and Tom (T.J.) witnessed firsthand the pride and joy that Bob Johnson spent a lifetime building the best purebred Angus herd that he could. Out of respect to our father and grandfather, the integrity of the purebred Angus herd will never be in jeopardy. This January will mark our first online video sale. The Bob Jon Family welcomes visitors any time.
