2026- Bus Tour Stops

As part of the Horse Progress Days tour, visitors will have the unique opportunity to explore the Duane Miller Farm in Arcola, Illinois. This stop offers a firsthand look at a diversified operation that combines modern sustainable farming practices with traditional craftsmanship.
Duane’s goat dairy is a highlight of the tour, showcasing his herd of 76 goats, which include mostly Saanen and Alpine breeds along with some crossbreds. Guests can learn about the daily operations of the dairy, including the care and milking of the goats, which produce 6 to 12 pounds of milk per day. Visitors may even have the chance to sample this delicious, high-quality milk.
The tour also includes a visit to Duane’s hay fields, where he grows 25 acres of hay to feed his goats and Percheron horses. This sustainable approach ensures that the animals receive top-notch nutrition while minimizing the need for external feed sources.
In addition to his dairy operation, Duane is the owner of Stutzman’s Headwear, which has become a trusted name in Amish and Mennonite communities across the U.S. and Canada. Tour attendees can witness the craftsmanship behind the production of 10 to 15 dozen hats per day in his shop. These hats are known for their quality, durability, and timeless style. Guests will also have the opportunity to purchase hats during the visit or place catalog orders for later delivery.
The Duane Miller Farm exemplifies the values of hard work, sustainability, family oriented, and community service. It’s a must-see stop on the Horse Progress Days tour, where visitors can gain valuable insights into a successful, multi-faceted operation—and perhaps take home a beautifully crafted hat or two!

Everlast Portable Buildings in Arthur, IL, is a must-see stop on the Horse Progress Days tour. Founded in 2003 and owned by brothers Vernon and John Miller, the company began by crafting
buildings with treated siding. Over time, they have expanded their offerings to include metal, painted, and vinyl siding, as well as durable metal roofing options. With a commitment to catering to various budgets, they provide solutions ranging from simple garden sheds to fully insulated offices and double wide garages in diverse styles and sizes. Recently, they added portable chicken coops to their lineup, available in a variety of designs to suit different needs. Their manufacturing process employs Lean principles, ensuring efficiency and precision by producing parts at each
workstation. This streamlined approach not only enhances quality but also reduces waste, aligning with their mission of delivering exceptional products.
Everlast Portable Buildings operates with a team of 18 to 20 dedicated employees, ready to assist customers in creating functional, high-quality structures. Whether you’re looking for a practical storage solution or a cozy office space, their attention to detail and innovative practices make them a standout in the portable building.

Another exciting destination on the Horse
Progress Days tour is Sunlit Pastures, owned and
operated by Lavon Chupp in Arcola, Illinois.
Since starting with a modest herd of five cows
in 2009, Lavon has steadily grown his dairy
operation to include 30 cows. This expansion
is a testament to his dedication and hard work.
Through direct marketing, he provides fresh dairy products to customers in
Chicago and locally, establishing strong connections with consumers who value
quality and transparency.
Sunlit Pastures spans 125 acres of hay and pasture. This land supports the
feed needs of the dairy operation, plus the 50 head of horses that they own
and board for outside clients, ensuring top-notch nutrition for the herd
while maintaining sustainable farming practices. Lavon’s commitment to
maximizing land use reflects his efficient approach to farming.
Farrier Acres,
In 2018, Lavon took over responsibility for the family’s stallion barn,
adding a significant dimension to the farm. The barn specializes in standing
stallions for the racing industry as well as producing Belgian Draft horses and
Standardbred buggy horses. In addition to stallion services, the barn provides
comprehensive mare care, training and sale prepping, and foaling services,
catering to a loyal clientele.
Visitors to Farriers Acres will gain valuable insights into a multifaceted
agricultural operation that blends dairy farming with equine management.
Lavon’s ability to balance these endeavors while maintaining high standards
of quality and care is an inspiration. Whether learning about the dairy’s direct
marketing efforts or exploring the stallion barn’s role in producing exceptional
horses, this tour stop

Welcome to Green Country Farm and the
Millers. We are a 131 acre, 4th generation
family farm, with the fifth generation starting
to tag along and now old enough to bottle feed the baby calves. We enjoy the challenges of farming
organically, as the farm has been certified for 18 years.
Our goal is to be diversified in what we do and raise for
specialty niche markets. Livestock on the farm consists
of 12 Belgian horses to swing the field work, numerous
buggy horses, along with 20,000 organic, pastured
laying hens, and the newest addition is a small herd of
A2 Jersey cows where we direct market our milk since
Feb of 2024. We are excited with the demand we see
for specialty milk and feel unworthy of the help from
other farmers in the community that have freely shared
from their experience and helped us along the way. On the grain side of the
operation, in years past we have been raising soybeans and white and blue
corn for the organic food grade market. We are now grinding the feed for the
laying hens and the grain we don’t raise is purchased in the local area. One of
the highlights is the baby foals each year. Whether it is a registered Belgian
workhorse or a black Morgan buggy horse, our goal is to raise foals from
genetics proven to produce a sensible horse that trains out well at a young age.
We welcome you to our community and hope you enjoy your visit.

Hungry for lunch? A delightful stop on the
Horse Progress Days tour in Arthur, Illinois,
will be at Hidden Acre Hobbies, a warm and
welcoming destination owned and operated
by Barbara Hochstetler. Since opening her
business in 2015, Barbara has created a space
that combines delicious meals with heartfelt
hospitality. Despite the loss of her husband
two years after starting this endeavor, Barbara has continued to serve her
community with grace and dedication.
At Hidden Acre Hobbies, guests will enjoy a hearty meal starting with a
fresh tossed salad. Main course options include savory meatloaf or crispy
breaded chicken, accompanied by mashed potatoes and comforting chicken
noodles. To top off the meal, a variety of pies and Homemade bread with Jam
will be available, offering a sweet finish to a home-cooked feast.
Hidden Acre Hobbies can accommodate 50 to 100 guests at a time, making it the perfect venue for both tour groups and special events. While lunch will
be a highlight for Horse Progress Days visitors, the business is particularly
bustling during the Christmas season, hosting banquets for local shops and
church groups.
This stop is more than just a meal—it’s a chance to experience the
warmth of small-town hospitality and Barbara’s remarkable journey of
resilience and service.

A highlight of the Horse Progress Days
tour in Arthur, Illinois, is a visit to Marcus
Miller’s produce farm. Marcus has built a large
operation, specializing in greenhouse and fieldgrown
produce, with a focus on quality and
sustainability.
The farm features 12 high tunnel
greenhouses dedicated to growing a variety of tomatoes, including red slicers,
yellow heirlooms, and other specialty types. Marcus begins his season by
starting tomato plugs in a small, heated hoop house before transplanting
them into the high tunnels, ensuring a strong start for the plants. In addition
to tomatoes, the farm also grows zucchini, cucumbers, and yellow squash,
providing a wide range of fresh, flavorful produce.
Beehives placed in the fields play a vital role in pollination, helping to
maximize yield while promoting ecological balance. During peak tomato
season, the farm is a hive of activity, with the family and their one employee
harvesting up to 400 buckets of tomatoes in a single day. Marcus and his wife
manage the operation with the help of their 12 children, making this a true
family business.
All of Marcus’s produce is sold through the local produce auction,
connecting his farm to buyers from across the region. This efficient and
community-oriented sales method ensures that his fresh, high-quality
produce reaches markets quickly, supporting both local consumers and the
broader agricultural economy.
This tour stop offers a glimpse into a remarkable produce operation where
innovation, hard work, and family teamwork come together to deliver fresh,
high-quality produce to the community.

Another noteworthy stop on the Horse
Progress Days tour is Miller’s Harness Shop,
a family business steeped in tradition and
innovation. Owned by Gary Miller, the fourth
generation in the business, the shop was
passed down to him in 2019 from his father,
continuing a legacy that has been central to the
community for decades.
Originally specializing in manufacturing
horse halters and custom tarps, Miller’s
Harness Shop has evolved to meet the changing
needs of horse owners. Today, the shop offers
a wide array of products, including new
harnesses, tack, and saddles for both horses and
ponies. Their dedication to craftsmanship and
quality makes them a trusted name in equestrian equipment.
Beyond manufacturing, Miller’s Harness Shop excels in repairs and harness
cleaning, ensuring that customers can extend the life of their equipment. They
also stock harness cleaning products and a selection of horse supplements,
catering to the overall care and well-being of their customers’ animals.
Visitors to the shop during Horse Progress Days will experience firsthand
the commitment to excellence that defines Miller’s Harness Shop. It’s a
perfect blend of tradition and modernity, making it

Our Last Stop is, Old Heritage Creamery, located in Arthur,
IL, is a standout stop on the Horse Progress
Days tour. Owned by Sam Gingerich, the
creamery was born out of a personal mission
to address his son’s lactose intolerance. Using
Non-GMO goat milk and A2A2 organic
grassfed cow’s milk, Sam has created a line
of high-quality dairy products, including a
variety of cheeses and drinkable yogurts in
several flavors. In addition to dairy, the creamery also offers butter, honey, and maple syrup,
providing a full selection of wholesome,
natural products.
A hallmark of their operation is the use of
low-heat pasteurization, which preserves the
natural nutrients and flavor of the milk. Their
automatic bottler, capable of filling a bottle
every 15 seconds, ensures efficiency while
maintaining the highest standards of quality. Milk is available in pint, quart,
and half-gallon sizes to cater to diverse customer needs.
The creamery sources its milk from three local farms, one specializing
in goats and the other two in cows, using an 800-gallon bulk trailer for
collection. With a 75-kilowatt generator powering the entire operation, Old
Heritage Creamery exemplifies self-sufficiency and reliability.
Sam’s dedication to quality and his family’s needs have made Old Heritage
Creamery a trusted name in dairy. Visitors to Horse Progress Days will enjoy
learning about their innovative practices and sampling their exceptional