https://www.claytonprairiefarm.com/home daily 1.0 2025-12-11 https://www.claytonprairiefarm.com/history daily 0.75 2019-08-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d309c5cd7d29c00012cf691/1564780905340-UZ3O0I82Y7NV8BCW1JAX/1968-8-2.jpg History - A Growing Farmstead Lloyd expanded PH’s small herd of dairy cows to a registered herd of Holsteins, which continually competed for one of the top milk producing herds in the county. To accommodate the growing operation, Lloyd build a new dairy barn in 1951 and added a free stall, calf and bull barns as well as modern machine sheds by the ‘60s. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d309c5cd7d29c00012cf691/1565696190017-PF9YNJBU7UE6OHK0R0NG/1973-9a-2.jpg History https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d309c5cd7d29c00012cf691/1565695931010-9SDU2GR0483SBZQRY1HR/Velma-Dad+7-19-19.jpg History https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d309c5cd7d29c00012cf691/1565561569381-A5TDMT0VPX8FJVTE1LZQ/1966-7-5a+Lloyd+%26+Jane+%281%29.jpg History https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d309c5cd7d29c00012cf691/1564781456152-VAH1G3X1I7RZJCQQ9EXB/IMG_6103.JPG History - A Family Tradition After graduating from Purdue, Vane led an R&D test team in John Deere’s Harvester division. He subsequently obtained his MBA and has led several software companies but remains passionate about his farming roots and loyalty to John Deere equipment. Despite living away, Vane has operated the farm since 2001 and purchased it from the estate in 2014. He continues to grain farm, rotating corn and soybeans under the Clayton Prairie Farms brand. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d309c5cd7d29c00012cf691/1564780198698-X6KEVYHF9J6PYS086B1S/1951-8-2.jpg History https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d309c5cd7d29c00012cf691/1565545993256-EDITB3V21DFZIIUAUAJ4/1970-1-2.jpg History https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d309c5cd7d29c00012cf691/1565560631255-7PN53O50ENQOOFTPIOXH/1967-8-10b.jpg History 4-H Fair with the cousins https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d309c5cd7d29c00012cf691/1565560632512-VRBU3KYDW7NGOYIBPZHX/1972-9-2.jpg History https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d309c5cd7d29c00012cf691/1564780198374-S67HAT202P7NM27L55I3/1951-8-4.jpg History https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d309c5cd7d29c00012cf691/1565545994398-UUICDDFV48L3DVJJ6MRF/81-5.jpg History https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d309c5cd7d29c00012cf691/1565560631643-G7X99CDG8ODRFO39HJA6/77-1.jpg History https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d309c5cd7d29c00012cf691/1565544810798-XK95HDC53195EX80PPCC/1946-1-1.jpg History https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d309c5cd7d29c00012cf691/1565550308404-Y957TVIBRX04VAFOV4B7/1981-7-2.jpg History https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d309c5cd7d29c00012cf691/1565560632993-RKP6M0VDX9IL3241EXZU/1973-9a-1.jpg History https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d309c5cd7d29c00012cf691/1564780198938-68S6EYBLUQL7D5MO4IYH/1951-9-1.jpeg History https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d309c5cd7d29c00012cf691/1565550309220-H0PVT1DN0FHIWNFXUC7Q/1966-32.jpg History https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d309c5cd7d29c00012cf691/1565560632127-6XA28HUNN491U4TV7NCL/1969-9-2.jpg History https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d309c5cd7d29c00012cf691/1564780199485-3ER2ZGM1LEE25T5Y9NQ9/1951-8-3.jpg History https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d309c5cd7d29c00012cf691/1565550319333-PQIFAD6FOYJ0B6T2LXR3/2014-10-9a+%281%29.jpg History https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d309c5cd7d29c00012cf691/1565560632269-AUUDNJZRIUUEFSBOYXOI/64+Sep-3-V.jpg History https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d309c5cd7d29c00012cf691/1565550891868-BE6C6SBKK67K2GGJLB57/07-05-2003++25.JPG History https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d309c5cd7d29c00012cf691/1565552908499-2NKCECGO7Z02PWGNASOL/1951-6-6a+Barn+Build.jpg History https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d309c5cd7d29c00012cf691/1565560634293-E2K0UJS1G88AXJWRWRRG/1964-9-3.jpg History https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d309c5cd7d29c00012cf691/1565552908626-24E72YOS4LYOM3RK4QGF/1951-6-8a+Barn+Build.jpg History https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d309c5cd7d29c00012cf691/1565557221263-83DRD63HZRDIODQ692OP/1966-9b-2+%281%29.jpg History https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d309c5cd7d29c00012cf691/1565614210149-NQFTU3AN5KH0LNOB3A3E/1973-9g.jpg History https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d309c5cd7d29c00012cf691/1565696726084-1AQ5JW6GYYT4IAF8LB2U/1966-8-3.jpg History https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d309c5cd7d29c00012cf691/1565614210004-LYJ8XFRKB0TGXWO7KAWK/1977-8-3g.jpg History https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d309c5cd7d29c00012cf691/1565614226022-YGEHN1X7BLAVXE4TOU6P/1998-5-4a+Planting.jpg History https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d309c5cd7d29c00012cf691/1565614209714-I4HCPSJA02Z0L0Z83LKD/1973-9a-3.jpg History https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d309c5cd7d29c00012cf691/1565615053763-807I0FDOTBQ40MAXTY4Q/1966-6-1c.jpg History https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d309c5cd7d29c00012cf691/1565744294522-7RWSHGQFTASJW40XSWY1/Family-159+%281%29.jpg History https://www.claytonprairiefarm.com/centennial daily 0.75 2022-08-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d309c5cd7d29c00012cf691/1565549824831-8SI0YT0IW03AJT98FHDA/43946999100_a0f2cdf5b7_o.jpg Centennial https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d309c5cd7d29c00012cf691/1564788793824-0GIR6SIYO17O7MA3VPKS/20140301_Trade-151_0124-copy.jpg Centennial https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d309c5cd7d29c00012cf691/1564791307146-21HX8K952O6BR85NAZMJ/2010-10-2.JPG Centennial https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d309c5cd7d29c00012cf691/1564791065223-6JLE7PT1RKFJCF7HP5IK/IMG_4191.jpg Centennial https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d309c5cd7d29c00012cf691/1565610847746-6MZ7B57Y9QCSHGTSKIDB/IMG_6141.JPG Centennial - Fall Harvesting Come for the combine, stay for the clean air and open spaces. https://www.claytonprairiefarm.com/harvesting daily 0.75 2019-08-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d309c5cd7d29c00012cf691/1565739747203-41XO4IMK05CY80TDMGGH/1978-9b-6b.jpg Harvesting As the farm acreage expanded, Lloyd changed his planter and combine equipment to “six-row” equipment with the JD6600 Combine to increase throughput by fifty percent. Vane would often try to negotiate working extra hours on the combine or tractor instead of milking the cows. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d309c5cd7d29c00012cf691/1565738951475-KVV848NNWLJC1NATJ3X8/20140301_Trade-151_0124-copy.jpg Harvesting - Mechanized Picking The first mechanized corn picker on the farm was a one-row 1945 JD corn picker (whole ear only) that Lloyd mounted on the drawbar of the JD B. This was a revolutionary step to increase the corn acres on the farm. Ear corn was stored in a traditional drive-through wood-structure corn crib and 2 circular wire cribs to allow for natural drying during the winter months. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d309c5cd7d29c00012cf691/1565825074187-MRNZW54DCG1K3TVVFWZF/1966-9c-1.jpg Harvesting In 1963, Lloyd upgraded to a two-row Oliver pull-type corn picker. He used a separate pull-type combine to harvest small grains like wheat and oats. Once each summer, family and neighbors would help empty the corn cribs and shell the corn with a separate shelling machine. Corn along with a mixture of oats, wheat, and supplements were mixed for dairy cow feed in addition to hay and silage. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d309c5cd7d29c00012cf691/1565740010449-NW5J4YBHLAL8AXPBOPB1/1982-9a-2.jpg Harvesting - Dream it. In 1981, Lloyd purchased a JD6620 combine with A/C and additional productivity features. Greater separation and grain tank size meant we could go further, faster. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d309c5cd7d29c00012cf691/1565825324744-M3TXHYVD0GOLIDKZN593/IMG_3422.JPG Harvesting Recently, Vane upgraded to a JD9560 Rotary combine, to increase capacity with a newer machine that includes GPS technology to measure real time yield data. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d309c5cd7d29c00012cf691/1565739454565-WFNXWDO783F8TQAC40RM/1973-9c-2.jpg Harvesting - First Combine In 1973, Lloyd purchased the first self-propelled JD4400 combine that picked and shelled corn in the same operation as well as being able to harvest small grains. The combine cut down on the manual labor required. Harvesting can be a dirty business as you churn up the dust from each dried crop. This enclosed cab model meant you could stay warm in the cold fall weather, harvest without inhaling the dust storm, and not look like a coal miner at the end of the day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d309c5cd7d29c00012cf691/1565740153644-DF0PLJWWH3ZHS37UJ252/2010-10+%281%29.JPG Harvesting Lloyd upgraded to a 9000 series combine in the mid ‘90s; the very same model Vane helped design at JD Harvester a decade earlier. While the mechanical roar of the JD6620 was like being at a rock concert with the engine next to the cab, the JD9400 cut the noise in half and added more efficient threshing and capacity. Lloyd made sure to call out any concerns he had with the function of the machine to see what those JD engineers were thinking.