SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: Farm & Home Supply
Do you believe in serendipity? The roots of Farm & Home Supply run deep in Adams County, but it all started with grabbing a bite to eat while passing through town 65 years ago. Karl Bowles and his mother, Luettice Baker, set out on a journey from Kansas City to Champaign to Bloomington to find the perfect place to start a farm supply business, having joined the Mid-States Distribution Group of retailers, without yet owning a physical store. On the way home back to KC, they stopped in Quincy at a local diner, to eat, when a real estate agent at the next table happened to overhear them talking about their dreams. The realtor struck up a conversation and asked, "Could I show you a couple of available buildings in Quincy?" That simple question turned a meal into a milestone.
In 1960, Karl opened the first Farm & Home Supply store at 924 Jersey Street in Quincy. It was a modest space, rented and without air conditioning, with a hard working team of just four employees. The store quickly became a trusted destination for local farmers and families looking for reliable, affordable supplies. Karl had a keen sense of what the community needed and worked tirelessly to meet those needs, saying, "Farmers were looking for bargains, and we worked really hard to do that for them."
Farm and Home Supply opened its second store in Jacksonville, Illinois in 1965 and then another store in Jerseyville, Illinois two years later. From those humble beginnings, Farm & Home Supply has grown into a thriving business, with now 15 locations, spanning across Illinois, Missouri and Iowa. While the company has expanded, our core values have remained the same: provide exceptional service, offer quality products at competitive prices, and always put our customers first. This growth has been possible because of the incredible support we’ve received from the communities we serve, especially right here in Adams County.
The people of Adams County have been at the heart of our success. For 65 years, we’ve had the privilege of serving multiple generations of hardworking families. We’ve seen customers who shopped with us as kids, now bringing their own children through our doors. That kind of loyalty means everything to us, and it’s why we’ve always made giving back a priority. Whether it’s supporting local schools, sponsoring community events, or donating to organizations that make a difference, we know that our success is tied to the well-being of the communities that have supported us from the very beginning.
As we celebrate our 65th Anniversary, alongside Adams County’s 200th, it’s a moment of reflection and gratitude. Just as Adams County has grown and evolved over the past two centuries, so too has Farm & Home Supply. But through all the changes, one thing has remained constant: our commitment to serving the hardworking men and women who keep our communities strong. We wouldn’t be here without you.
Looking ahead, we’re excited for what the future holds. We’ll continue to grow, adapt, and find new ways to serve our customers while staying true to the values that Karl instilled in us all those years ago. To our customers, employees, and community partners—thank you for 65 incredible years. We look forward to many more.
-Your Farm & Home Supply Team