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TOURS LOCAL ATTRACTIONS MAP Harold
with his grandaughter,
Stephanie.
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In 1965, my father, Harold
Askelson, decided to plant a few apple trees as a hobby. Dad had
retired from farming, but still had a strong desire to be involved in
agriculture at some level. He decided that planting a few apple
trees to provide fruit for
our family would be a great idea. I think my mother, Edna, agreed
just
because she thought it would keep him busy. Dad got a little
carried away and planted more trees than we had family. Within a few years, the trees that Dad had planted were producing more apples than our family could possibly use. Not being ones to let anything go to waste, Mom and Dad decided to set up shop in their garage and sell apples in grocery bags to friends and neighbors. That was all the incentive that Dad needed to turn his hobby into a business. He planted more trees and by 1977 was growing enough apples to buy a cider press and officially opened up for business. That year, my husband, Steve, and I joined my parents in the business. Dad retired from the orchard in 1992 and Steve and I took over the full time operation of the orchard. Dad passed away in 2000 and Mom passed away this year, but their commitment to provide our customers with quality products and a chance to spend time on the farm and create some great family memories will continue. I'm sure you'll agree, we've come a long way since we sold our first grocery bag of apples out of the garage! 2011 FAMILY UPDATE 2011 has been a year of joy and sorrow. In May, Mom (Grandma Edna) passed away at the age of 94. While we miss her and mourn her loss, we celebrate the wonderful life she had. Our memories of her will always be part of the orchard. We've also been very blessed this year with a growing family. Our three daughters, Lindsay, Stephanie and Brittany are all doing well. Lindsay and her husband, Berk Boehne, live in nearby Shabbona where Berk farms, raises hogs, and has a trucking business. Lindsay and Berk have given us two adorable granddaughters, Avery, age 4 and Madison, age 1. They are the "apples" of our eyes. Lindsay organizes our school tours and helps at the orchard on weekends. Stephanie and her husband, Nate Lamoreux, live in Lanark, IL where he farms and raises cattle. In April, Steph and Nate blessed us with our first grandson, Lleyton Stephen Lamoreux. There hasn't been a boy in our family in years, so needless to say, Grandpa Steve is pretty excited. Stephanie will be teaching reading in Lanark this year, as well as adjusting to being a new mom. Brittany graduated from Kishwaukee College with a degree in Radiologic Technology. She will be attending the College of Dupage this fall to further her training in Mammography. She spent the summer working for us at the orchard and will be managing the Feeding Trough on weekends and making all of our homemade candy. Kathy Askelson Bock |
 Harold Askelson in the orchard picking apples.  Steph and Nate's Apple Barn Wedding. |