Meet Director Mike Horcher
by Elaine Stock, Special Feature Writer

Wheeling farmer Michael Horcher has spent his life doing what he could to keep alive the farm that has been a part of the Horcher family since 1848. For more than 150 years, the Horcher family have been providing services of some sort to residents of Cook and surrounding counties.

Horcher’s achievements have come to fruition because of his dedication: Dedication to carrying on the family tradition in agriculture; and dedication to having a voice in what is needed in the community to make it thrive.

With Horcher’s farm located close to Lake-Cook Road, the Cook County farmer has had to conduct his business of agriculture in the midst of a very urban environment. That has meant overcoming challenges. In doing so, Horcher has strengthened his resolve to do his part in helping to preserve the presence of the small businessman in agriculture and in the community.

The 71-year-old farmer has become active in the community as a Village Trustee and as a director on the Cook County Farm Bureau board. His involvement in the government body and general agricultural organization has served as a vehicle for him to help others.

In its infancy, the family farm was located in a very rural area, and the Horchers provided the service of blacksmithing. As the years passed, the livestock and grain farm grew. When Horcher, a fourth generation family farmer, began operating the farm, the dairy cattle were gone, but there were still cattle, hogs, and poultry. Grain crops were grown to use as feed for the animals.

"When the stockyards were taken out, we stopped our livestock production," Horcher commented. The Wheeling farmer had been planning ahead, and had gradually begun growing vegetables. "We have always tried to plan ahead for changes," Horcher explained. "When we see changes coming, we start developing another enterprise so there’s the gradual evolution in the types of products and services offered.

During the peak times, the vegetable production was scattered over more than a hundred acres. Green beans, sweet corn, and tomatoes headlined the vegetable selections. The Horchers had mechanical pickers and grading tables for the green beans. "In our peak times from the 1970s to the 1990s, we would get up at 2:00 A.M. to pick the sweet corn and get it ready for market," Horcher recalled.

Produce from the Horcher farm could be found in fourteen towns for six days of the week. "At one point, all six of my sons were old enough to drive a truck to the farmer’s market and sell the produce we had," he said.

Maintaining the "plan ahead" philosophy, the Horchers built their first greenhouse in 1988. During the next seven years, the Horchers saw changes in consumer buying. Large amounts of vegetables were no longer purchased for canning and freezing as was done in previous years. Consumers also started looking for fresh produce in the grocery store. In 1995, the Horchers quit their vegetable production and began selling plants.

"It was a good business while we had customers," Horcher said of the vegetable crops. The plant business, Horcher’s Country Flowers, is managed by Mike’s son, Patrick, and continues to evolve to meet consumer demands.

Horcher and his wife, Bernadine, raised their six sons – Michael, Patrick, Timothy, Darrell, Christopher, and James – to be active members on the farm. All were expected to help with the chore, whatever it might be. Horcher was content to keep the family together with the common bond in agriculture. "It is really satisfying for me to see all six of my sons in business for themselves and all are doing OK," he said.

The Cook County farmer’s involvement with government began after Horcher’s farm was "voluntarily" annexed into the village of Wheeling. From that point on, Horcher has been fighting for the rights of farmers and other small businessmen. He is in his second elected term as Trustee and has become very interested in the workings of local government.

"I’ve learned a lot about what’s going on in our village," Horcher began. "I am on the village board to continue to help the people of Wheeling continue as best for them – not for the control of the village," he said. "To help the community is my goal."

In 1987, Horcher began service to the Farm Bureau as a director on the board. "Farm Bureau promotes issues that are good for agriculture," Horcher said. "I’m on the board to help the small farmer." Horcher is active on the Legislative Committee and the Ag in the Classroom committee.

The Wheeling farmer has a strong interest in trying to do what’s best with the people he deals with in his business. "Even it if means losing money," he added. "We did a lot of business on a handshake."

Horcher is retirement age, but he chooses to remain active in the business as much as possible. "I’m not one to sit on a rocker on the back porch," he quipped. For now, he remains active at St. Joseph the Worker Parish and is enjoying time with his six grandchildren.

Michael is thankful to his wife Bernadine and their six sons for their family unity in achieving the many goals, which sometimes became very stressful. The family remains a very important part of the family achievements.

He doesn’t know what the future holds for the family farm, but he knows that, at a minimum, he wants to keep part of the farm as a farm. In the meantime, he plans to use his varied experiences to help others. The dedication that was such a big part of Horcher’s life has not diminished.