Hambleton, Ruth.

Born on Sept. 17, 1953 in Joliet, Ill. She is a farm extension specialist who works with the University of Illinois Extension program. Ruth's grandparents came from Germany, eventually settling in Chicago. When the depression hit, the family decided to move to a farm in order to keep food on the table. The Fleck family settled on a small farm near Joliet. The farm was a typical subsistence operation of the time, with cows, chickens, turkeys, a garden, and crops to feed the livestock. The farm remained very much the same up to the time when Ruth was born. Ruth's parents, Frank and Annette, would often complain about the new government policies, including inspection of turkey and other produce sold from the farm. As an adult, Ruth's views toward government policies have evolved. Ruth married Kenneth Hambleton in 1978. The couple purchased a forty acre farm approximately 15 miles outside of Mt. Vernon. They breed calves and conduct rotational grazing. Her husband is trained in AI (artificial insemination) but decided that it was easier to purchase a bull and let nature run its course. In her work with the University of Illinois Extension program, Ruth started Annie's project, which teaches women involved in agriculture subjects like farm finances, budgets, and other subjects useful in maintaining modern farms. By 2008, the project had worked with 400 women in Ill., as well as women from 20 midwestern states.