About Us
Martin Family Farms is owned and operated by Jeff and Jean Martin, Doug and Erin Martin, and Derek Martin of Mount Pulaski, Illinois. They raise corn and soybeans throughout central Illinois.
Jeff and Jean were both raised on grain farms in rural Mt. Pulaski. They both graduated from the University of Illinois with degrees in agricultural economics and finance. Throughout the years, they have had a deep devotion and commitment to their family, their farm, and the agricultural community.
Jeff has been involved with countless civic activities such as school, church, and various organizations. He has been deeply involved with The Chicago Farmers becoming the first ever "farmer" president to lead that organization. He has been a member of the Advisory Council for the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and has won numerous awards including the Illinois Corn Growers Environmental Action Award, the No-Till Farmer Innovator of the Year, Top 25 Legends of No Till, and the 2006 Outstanding American Conservation Award from the Farm Service Agency and was inducted into the No-Till farmer Hall of Fame in 2026.
Jean is also very active in agriculture and the community. She has served on various local organizations, such as the St. Johns Church and the Mt. Pulaski Park District. Along with keeping records and bookwork during the winter months she is employed by FBFM.
Doug and Erin have been married since 1998 and are enjoying raising their four children, Drew, Alec, Luke, and Ella. Doug graduated from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale where he was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho and completed a bachelor’s degree in agriculture production. Doug returned home to farm in 1998 and has been involved in various local and agricultural organizations also. He was a 2004 graduate of The Illinois Ag Leadership Program, where he spent time in Washington D.C., China, Hong Kong, and India. Doug was also a graduate of the 2006 Cultivating Master Farmer Program. He is the former chairman of the Land of Lincoln Soil Savers and is a Mt. Pulaski FFA Alumni. He is a former member of the ag advisory council for the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, and former director for the Logan County Soil and Water Conservation District, and former President of the Mt. Pulaski Athletic Association. He also spent 10 years as the assistant Jr. High boys’ basketball coach. He is currently on Mt. Pulaski CUSD #23 school board where he was president for 8 years and recently completed the Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership to become a Soil Health Ambassador for Illinois. Doug also serves as a director on the board of the Illinois Soybean Association. Doug and Erin have four children, Drew, who graduated from the University of Illinois in December of 2025 and is returning to work on the family farm. Alec who is currently studying agriculture engineering at the University of Illinois. Luke will attend Heartland Community College in the fall of 2026 to study agriculture and play baseball, and Ella who is active in sports and FFA is sophomore at Mt. Pulaski.
Erin completed her degree from Lincoln Land Community College. She took a job with the State of Illinois, but in 2005, she made the switch to be a full-time mother. She is deeply devoted to raising their four children. In her spare time, Erin has recently served as a trustee for the Lake Fork Township, treasurer and president for the Mt. Pulaski Booster Club and is the former President of the local PASE (parent/student) organization.
In 2013, Derek joined the farming operation. Derek has two boys, Dean and Reed. Derek attended the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana where he was a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in farm and financial management in 2002. After college, Derek worked for Bunge North America as a grain merchandiser on the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. In the summer of 2005, Derek moved back to Mt. Pulaski where he became an assistant elevator manger and safety director for Elkhart Grain Company. Derek has been involved in community and agricultural organizations for many years now. He currently serves on the board of directors for Vonderleith Living Center. He has been a member of the Mt. Pulaski Township Park District, Lake Fork Drainage District, and past president of the Logan County Farm Bureau. Derek was also named National Outstanding Young Farmer of the Year in 2019. Derek's oldest son Dean is a senior at Mt. Pulaski High School and is very active with the MPHS Shooting team the FFA and currently serves as a Section 14 Officer. Reed who is a junior and active in the shooting team, sports and FFA at Mt. Pulaski High School.
Our Team:
Drew Martin is returning to the farm in 2026, after graduating from the Heartland Community College and University of Illinois with a degree in Sustainability in food and Environmental Systems. While at Heartland Drew also played baseball and was part of winning the 2023 National Championship team as a pitcher.
Chad Radtke has been a part of the operation since 2011. Chad, born and raised in central Illinois, has been in the agriculture industry since his teenage years. Chad is married to his wife, Lori, and they have one adult daughter, Jade. Chad and Lori reside in the country outside of Mount Pulaski, Illinois.
For harvest we have a great team of part time/retired guys who play a huge role in allowing us to complete harvest.