ABOUT

Midwest Pheasantries, Inc started in 1986 by Mark and Beverly Weber. Starting as a hobby for Mark's love of hunting and training hunting dogs. Borrowing a small Styrofoam incubator from a friend, Mark thought it would be fun to hatch pheasants for their oldest daughter. It didn't take long before Mark and Bev ordered a few incubators and started hatching more. Being able to sell the birds quickly, Mark thought about doing more with this hobby. They bought undeveloped land in Illinois City the Spring of 1987. With Mark vision and drive, pens were built first followed by a small barn. Like most farmers, then came the house. Midwest Pheasantries was up and running, selling to local restaurants and a few hunt clubs. In 1990, Mark and Bev built a good working relationship with another pheasant farm. With more orders and the business continuing to grow, the need to expand the hatchery was the next project. In 2003, Mark, Bev, and their three daughters built a state of the art hatchery. This growth allows the farm to produce 30,000 pheasant chicks a week. The next growth for Midwest Pheasantries came in 2012. Mark brought an idea to Bev to raise chukars. Bev knew Mark already had a vision for how it would all work. Now, there are 50 above ground chukar runs. Over the years, Mark and Bev have built a business based on hard work and honesty, and the industry has come to know Midwest Pheasantries.

TEAM

Mark Weber

Owner and Operator

Mark maintains daily operations with the help of 6-8 full time employees. Mark ensures the daily feed schedules, barn chores, picking of eggs, and hatchery operations are accounted for. He helps with shipments and delivery of pre-starts and mature birds. Mark orders feed, straw, and materials need for normal operations.

"When I was starting this, I wanted to be the largest in the Midwest. I look back and see how naïve I was about the pheasant industry. However, over the years, I haven't changed the hard work I put into our farm. I may not be the largest in the Midwest, I am doing what I love and living my dream every day." - Mark

Beverly Weber

Owner and Accounts Manager

Beverly handles hatchery work such as culling eggs, packing eggs, preparing chick orders, and driving delivery van. She maintains the hatchery and grounds around the farm. Beverly is the accounts manager and processes all paperwork and invoices. She assists with ensuring orders are filled and on time.

"Over the years, I have more and more understanding for Mark's visions. Although, I never thought of being a pheasant farmer, the hard work and dedication he has for our farm, has made raising pheasants and continuing to grow our business worth it. If it wasn't for the help of our three daughters our family farm wouldn't be where we are today." - Beverly

Brett Johnson

Brandi Weber

Bo Weber

Brett Johnson (Oldest)

Growing up on the farm was hard work, to say the least. As a kid, my sisters and I were Dad's "hired hands" for the most part. This meant all summer and weekends, the work was ours to do. I can say this now looking back, all the hard work definitely paid off. My family has built an honest, good quality farm that our community has come to know as Midwest Pheasantries.

Bo Weber (Middle Child)

To this day, I love telling people about the farm. Raising pheasants is a unique way to grow up and with all the hard work, memories, and years working there, it taught me to appreciate being able to work hard for what you love. My family has truly built a business based on honesty and hard work.

Brandi Weber (Youngest)

As the youngest, I thought I always had the worst jobs and most the time, I was right. Looking at it now, I am able to laugh at the memories of carrying straw too heavy for me or filling the bottom crate with birds. Helping on the farm and knowing what my family has built, I am so proud to say I am part of Midwest Pheasantries.