Forty of Passavant Hospital’s community leaders boarded a bus on Tuesday, July 7, for a tour of local farmland that helps support the hospital with annual income. Hospital board directors, Passavant Foundation trustees, Farm Advisory Committee members, hospital administrators, farm operators, and farm managers were present for the excursion.
Farms visited included the Hinderliter Farm, east of Jacksonville, which was donated by Hobart and Marian Hinderliter in 2013; the Barsnes Farm in Alexander, donated by Irma Fox Barsnes in 1985; the Corrington Farm, also in Alexander, donated by Frances W. Corrington in 1973; the Mildred Dinwiddie Farm in Literberry, donated by Mildred J. Dinwiddie in 1982, and the Frank Dinwiddie Farm, donated by Frank C. Dinwiddie in 1981. The final stop of the evening was at Dr. Ugs Café in Virginia, where the group enjoyed dinner.
Passavant is the owner or trust beneficiary of over 4,000 acres of farmland. Corn, soybeans, and occasionally, wheat are farmed on the land located in Morgan, Cass, and Scott Counties. The Foundation shares 423 acres with four local institutions: Berea Church, Bob Freesen YMCA, Hebron Cemetery and Illinois College.
The Passavant Farms are managed by professional farm managers with oversight by the Passavant Foundation Farm Advisory Committee. Annual income from the Passavant Farms is directed by the donors for “Greatest Need,” patient financial assistance and nursing scholarships. Annual income from grain sales exceeds $900,000 and assists the hospital in carrying out its mission to improve the health of the people and communities it serves.
The Foundation’s philosophy is to retain and operate productive farmland. Stewardship of the land is overseen by the Passavant Farm Advisory Committee, a group of hospital board directors and local farmers. The committee works closely with farm managers and farm operators to ensure best land management practices.
This tour gives the Farm Advisory Committee the opportunity to visit with farmers and farm managers, and allows them to see the land and assess growing crops in person. The much anticipated annual event also allows hospital leaders to thank farmers in person for their dedication in caring for the donated land which generates income with each harvest to advance patient care.
“We are truly grateful to the farm families who have provided a legacy for local healthcare through gifts of farmland,” said Pam Martin, Executive Director of the Foundation. “It is a great responsibility to be good stewards of their land.”
The most recent planned gift of Scott County farmland was donated by Howard and Vera Million in 2014. The Million Farm is 320 acres and valued at $3,500,000.
