(intro music) - Welcome to a Shot of Ag, I'm your host, Rob Sharkey.

I'm a fifth generation from just outside of Bradford, Illinois.

You ever heard of the Barn III Theater?

You ever heard of it?

We're gonna talk to the owner and producer, Abby Reel.

Now Abby, you're talking to farmers, I don't know, I guess there's some farmers listing, producer is a different term when you're talking agriculture, and we're talking the theater.

- I suppose, I'd argue there's quite a bit of similarities.

- Yeah.

But when you're the owner, you kinda, you do everything, right?

- Yeah, you do everything.

I go from plunging toilets to being on stage, usually within about 20 minutes of each other.

- Really?

- Yeah.

- So, you are owner/producer/actress?

- Plumber.

- Plumber?

(laughing) Is it actor or actress?

- Actor is fine, actor is fine.

We'll just keep it universal.

- Okay.

- Yeah.

- I don't know this stuff.

- So yeah, the Barn, we wear many hats at the barn.

- Yes.

Now, the Barn III, that's in Goodfield.

- Yes.

- And it's gone by other names in the past.

- Yeah.

- So, what else was it called?

- So, the original barn started as Conklin's Barn Theater, and the original owners were Chaunce Conklin and Mary Simon, and they started the original barn in 1975.

And they literally found an old abandoned Angus cattle barn, it was actually an auction barn on that property in Goodfield, and they gutted the whole thing.

I have pictures of them shoveling out manure.

- Really?

- From the show ring.

And they turned the show ring and the auctioneer block into the stage, and then they put the tables downstairs and then they turned the entire haymow to the upper mezzanine balcony.

- That's a fun word.

- The joke.

Isn't it?

Mezzanine, I know, I like to say it a lot.

But the joke goes that they took the beef out of the barn and put the hams on the stage.

(laughing) - I don't know if anybody told you but I do the jokes, okay.

- Oh I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

- So, when you do a joke that's funnier than anything I would say.

- I will abstain.

For as long as I can.

- Kinda hurts my feelings.

- If you don't land them, I'll have to hop in.

(laughing) - All right, there's a lot more to your story though than Barn III.

You grew up on a farm.

- I did.

So, I grew up on a farm in Congerville.

Sort of my claim to fame since I was a little girl, was I was the daughter of Les Reel, and he was an Angus producer and leading man in agriculture across the entire country.

- So, what do you mean by that?

- Well, my dad was, first of all, his one claim to fame locally is he opened the Reel Livestock Center located in Congerville, right on the overpass there.

- Boy, you can do so many things with your name.

- I know right.

- You should be on stage.

Reel.

- I am married but I kept my name because it was just that cool.

- Well, yeah, it's a Hollywood type.

- You have to keep it Reel.

Yeah.

- I'm sorry, I interrupted you.

So, your dad.

- No, so my dad, Les Reel, has been a leader in the Angus industry all his life.

Now, he did pass away in 2013 of terminal cancer, but he left a huge legacy in Illinois agriculture.

In fact, I brought some things with me today, 'cause I know you told me I needed to bring some things for the desk.

- Yes.

- I mean, I brought you breakfast.

- I believe the instruction was a thing.

(laughing) - I brought the Mary Poppins basket of things.

- We've got a, I don't even know where to start.

- Well, this is one which might be glaring on the camera, but in appreciation to Les Reel for his years of outstanding service and commitment to the Illinois Junior Angus Association.

This hangs in my women's bathroom at the Barn III dinner theater and event center.

- Well, that's not very fair to the guys.

(laughing) - I decorated the entire women's bathroom in Angus cattle decor, all my old show ribbons.

- That's actually really cool.

- It is really cool.

- What's the guys bathroom like?

- It's called the tool shed and there's a big sign over the urinals that say, Grab Your Tool.

- I don't get it.

- It's very serious.

- You ever went to the Hancock building in Chicago?

- Yeah.

- Well, the best view is supposed to be in the women's bathroom.

So, you pay the guard up there.

I'm not making this up.

You pay the guard, you slip him some, and then he'll take you in.

- He'll let you in.

- I mean, not me, I would never do it, but.

- Okay, well good.

- What were we talking about?

- Well, I'll let you go into the women's bathroom when you come to the barn.

- But this is, all right, so people, first of all, people that don't know agriculture, and Angus is a breed of cattle.

- Black.

- A very delicious breed.

- The only breed of cattle I might add.

- Please don't email me.

I didn't say it.

I didn't say it.

But agriculture is, it's funny, and I mean, we're talking to I'm sure some people in agriculture, and a lot of people that don't know the culture, to get an award like this from especially a livestock group, because you've got the farmers that are like the tough rugged, and then you've got the livestock guys that go the extra whatever, to get an award like this, it says a lot about your dad.

So, he must've been very very well liked and appreciated.

- He was.

- Did you know that growing up?

- I did.

He's been my mentor, my hero, I think so much of what I know and implement in business today, running my own company, are all things that I learned directly from him.

And he was known for having all of these sayings that was something that was really popular about my dad, and he'd say things like, well Abby, some things just have a will to live.

- Some things have a will to live.

- Just some things have a will to live.

He usually was referring to a farm dog or weeds or something like that, but some things just have a will to live.

He'd also always say, all roads were taking lead uphill.

And I think when I embarked on the barn rebuilding project, that was a phrase that I hung onto, is that all roads were taking lead uphill.

Like, sharks don't swim backwards.

- I didn't make it up, I stole it.

- Still.

- All right, so when did you start the Barn III?

I'm trying to get to, what I'm trying to get, was your dad around when you started this?

- No.

- Okay.

- No, my dad was not.

So, my dad is who first introduced me to Mary Simon, who was the previous owner of the barn.

Her and Chaunce operated it from 1975 all the way until it was hit by a tornado in 2015, and left inoperable.

- I thought it burnt down.

- No, everybody thinks it burnt down, but it was a massive wind storm.

Picked the whole barn up, twisted it, set it right back down on its foundation.

- You ever heard of that mandala effect?

It's where when you think, like Looney Tunes is spelled one way but it's not.

I think that's probably what happened.

- It must be.

- An alternate universe, it burnt down.

- Something about the barn effect.

- Yeah, I don't know.

- Remember that fire in Chicago that that cow started?

- They connected it to that.

- So maybe that's why.

- Maybe that's it.

Who knows.

But we did not burn down and knock on wood we never will.

- I don't think that's real wood.

- So, the original barn was Conklin's Dinner Theater in 1975 they opened it.

They did go bankrupt at one point in time, so the late 70's, they operated pretty successfully for a bit.

I think it was late 70's, early 80's they went bankrupt, it sat empty for about a year, and then Mary Simon bought back the property because Conklin's name couldn't be associated with the barn anymore.

- 'Cause the bankruptcy thing?

- Yes, because of the bankruptcy thing.

So, when Mary bought it, they renamed it, The Barn II Dinner and Theater.

And that's what many people, and then Mary took over operations because of Chaunces health problems.

And under Mary's successful business leadership, the Barn really took off.

And then in 2015, it was hit by the tornado.

She tried to keep the company together, they did some shows at Five Points Washington, a nearby theater, but it just didn't have the same impact.

- No, it's gotta be in the barn doesn't it?

- It does.

- I mean, that's kinda the whole.

- There's something, when you come to the barn, and there is a sense of community and intimacy that you just can't duplicate in any theaters nearby.

- Okay.

- So, that's when I took over.

- Well, generally, in an interview, you go chronologically.

You're.

- (laughing) I'm jumping all over the place.

You can keep up with me.

- All right, let's, no, lets keep going.

- You can keep up with me.

- I don't know.

Let's keep going, because I'm fascinated on how you, because we're hearing your background is a farm girl.

- Yeah.

- Did you have any background experience as theater or acting?

- So, my dad, again, introduced me to Mary Simon when I was five years old.

So, him and my mom used to take all their customers and their employees to the barn all the time for all kinds of celebrations.

And when he first introduced me to Mary Simon, he said Mary, I want you to meet the next Mary Simon.

So, I have to add prophecy to his list, many lists of accomplishments.

But that sort of started a relationship, so I grew up being cultured by going to the theaters, so he took me there.

He loved it, he thought it was a great time.

So, the barn was always a part of my life.

I got my first job at the barn when I was a freshmen in high school waiting tables and busing tables.

- Oh, a waitress.

- Yeah.

- And then, Mary auditioned me.

- Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

So when you were doing this, right, when you were watching all this?

- Yeah.

- Or in your mind, is like, it'd be kinda cool to be on stage?

- Oh, I think everybody, yeah, most of our, so that's a unique thing about the barn, most of our staff are actors, box office professionals, everyone are also actors on stage.

So, you'll never know, your waiter will come up, take your order, and all of a sudden the curtain will open, and there they are on stage.

- Is that just you double-dipping on your employees?

- Shh.

- Oh, you wanna be an actor?

- They get paid to do both things.

- Hey, take out this garbage.

- They get paid to do both things.

- You're plunging toilets.

- Yeah, I'm the one plunging toilets, so you know.

- I guess it is what it is.

- So yeah, I think early on, that planted some seeds and I was in my first show at the barn when I was a senior in high school.

- What was it?

- Little Mary Sunshine.

- Were you Mary Sunshine?

- I was not Mary Sunshine, no.

- Okay.

Do you remember your role?

- I think I was Cora.

- Cora?

- I think.

- That sounds like a Disney princess or something like that.

- Yes, it's been a little while since that year.

- Was that the first time that you really, I don't know, acted, did anything?

- I started getting involved with theater, and probably more specifically, public speaking and presentations through 4H.

So, I started as a 4H'er as soon as I was eight years old and boy.

- You seem really introverted.

- Yeah, that is a problem, I have to work hard to overcome in life.

(laughing) - Here I am.

- A lot of people couldn't do that, couldn't get up on a stage because nerves, whatever, speaking in public.

You ever suffer from that?

- No.

- Shocker.

- I don't.

I'm good.

I'm good.

But I think in many ways, that was something that my dad really instilled in me, is growing up, we would drive, he judged every cattle fair imaginable, I mean, state fairs, county fairs, you name it.

So, I got to travel the US in the backseat of the truck going to all these different cattle shows.

And my dad would practice giving reasons in the car, while we would drive to all these various location.

So, I'd just sit in the back and hear him say, now ladies and gentlemen, this Angus cow right here, the way he moves off his feet, da da da.

- Really?

- And so, in some ways, I think he was cultivating sorta that speaking and presentations skills in me, before I even knew it.

- Didn't even, yeah.

- So, it was fun.

So, we'd broth practice our speeches on each other in the car once, I got a little older and had stuff to memorize.

- Wanting to start this again, the Barn Theater, and actually doing it, way two different things.

What was the hardest part about transitioning and starting this thing again?

- Oh, now you have stumped me.

- Yeah.

Yeah, tables have turned.

Well, I mean, there had to be, there had to be some tough, - Yeah.

- Just even financial or-- - No, I think yeah, there's been so many obstacles that seemed insurmountable at the time, that really when you look back, I am a woman of faith and I just have to say those were God things, like I don't know how else we could've done it.

So, it does feel like that there was a particular calling or purpose for me in this work.

- Did you rebuild it, the barn?

- Yes, we rebuilt it.

So, I think really obtaining financing, which is funny because I watched my mom and dad go through this process, obtaining financing for the Reel Livestock Center, when they built it in '93.

And they signed up with a bank, or it was Illinois Producers Association that was gonna help them build it, da da da, anyways, the whole deal fell through, and it all landed back on them halfway through the build and they had to seek bank financing and pull it all together.

- Who do you get to build a, do you use the Amish?

- And so, yeah, I know, so I felt in a very similar way, I was facing those same obstacles, so I felt like I dated bankers.

I tell you what.

I went to so many banking meetings.

- Really?

- Trying to find the bank that believed in what I was doing.

And I had 45 years of data on the successful operation of the dinner theater that I could show them.

Not to mention, the new barn cross purposes for weddings and special events.

So, I Had and I had ran my own wedding business on the side for 10 years, so I had all that data.

So, I had a lot of ammunition, but there were not a lot of banks interested in financing entertainment.

- 'Cause they'd never done it.

- Exactly.

We're unique, there are not very many dinner theaters.

- And I don't want to rip on banks, but when they don't have their little protocol, they don't know what to do.

- And I didn't fit.

I didn't fit into any particular hole.

But Morton Community Bank in Morton stepped up to the plate.

- Really?

- And they were amazing.

Shelly Hunt was my banker, she recently retired.

Made me so sad.

How many people can say they loved their banker?

- Not me.

- Sometimes farmers, farmers have to create a very unique relationship with their bankers.

And my dad modeled that, boy he was best friends with them.

- When you buy something like a tractor or a farm and you just call your bank and say hey there's gonna be a check coming through.

(laughing) I really hope our credit's not watching this.

- I was gonna say, I'm like, who's your people?

- What is this?

- So anyways.

- What do we got here?

- Oh my goodness.

This.

- It's Ritzs.

- Oh, no, it gets better.

I don't know if they're gonna zoom in on this.

Do I need to hold it up so you can see it?

This my friends, is the Barn III's own secret recipe.

- What's in it?

- Beer cheese.

It's like crack on a cracker.

- Okay, I'll be the judge of that.

- I can tell you right now this recipe has been in operation for 45 years.

- If it's really that good, then most people would look that off, right?

- I'd do it right now if you want me to.

It's so much better on a cracker though.

- That's good, you want some?

(laughing) - No shame.

Five second rule.

- Did I get some in my beard?

- No, you're doing good.

- Okay.

All right, I'm gonna.

- So, yeah, this is.

- I don't know if I want a cracker.

- I hear it's that good.

- It's pretty good.

- It's like.

- Want some?

No?

- I brought plenty for everyone, so don't worry.

- Yeah, that's, I mean you're doing a dinner theater.

What brought on a beer cheese?

- Well, the beer cheese has been a staple at the dinner theater since it first opened, and it they came up with their own secret recipe.

I can't tell you what's in it, I would have to kill you.

So, it has lasted for 45 years, and people crave this.

They come back to the barn every year just to buy it.

So, during COVID when everything shut down, we were totally not able to operate for almost a year and a half on the theater side of what we did.

So, we started selling beer cheese, and I swear, beer cheese and our crazy light show, which is what this is symbolizing for you today, is what kept us afloat during that time period.

What do you think?

You can just keep on going 'cause you can't stop.

I know how bad it is.

It's addictive.

(laughing) So, on the show today, we're also gonna talk about.

(laughing) I'll just take over for you while you enjoy breakfast.

Should I get something else out?

Do you wanna see anything else?

- I don't care.

- Okay.

Yeah, it's that good.

How about this one?

So, this will tie you back, this is so fascinating.

So, I showed you the one of my dad, right, the award that he won.

So, this is where things come full circle.

This is an award for Forest Lemons at Timberline Farms.

So, Forest Lemons.

- Forest Lemons?

- Forest Lemons was tagged the Cattle King of Illinois.

- Oh, it's a name.

- A name.

This is Forest Lemons.

- I thought it was a fruit.

- He built the barn, the original barn that Mary and Chaunce turned into the dinner theater, and he was the Cattle King of Illinois and him and his entire family, the Robinson Family, their claim to fame is they were the first people to bring Angus cattle, the breed, to the state of Illinois.

And so, it's so fascinating that this whole history.

- That's actually really cool.

- Of me growing up on a Angus cattle farm with my dad and sort of being.

- Pass along the beer cheese and crackers to everyone.

- Don't listen to those guys, here come get ya some.

(laughing) It's all good.

- They're going for it.

- Yeah they do.

Look at, they're getting yelled at, don't you dare, don't you dare go over to the desk.

- But this is love, I love the family, this is his daughter's hand right here and it makes me so happy 'cause I love this.

This is farm families right here.

- That's right.

- Right, we all get involved.

- That's really good.

- So, I know it's really good.

So anyways, Forest Lemons, in recognition of lifetime contributions to agriculture, a truly progressive pioneer in the purebred livestock industry, State of Illinois, James Thompson, Governor and Larry Warrys, Director of Agriculture.

- I wonder if that governor went to jail.

- And that was 1981, the year I was born.

I just aged myself.

- Really?

- Yeah.

- I would've guessed you were 21.

- Yeah, so anyways, this is the property that my barn is built on.

And it just is so cool.

So, I feel like there's this weird coming together of this history and legacy of the barns.

And again, we're filling my barn with ham now, hams on a stage.

- I do have a serious question for you.

- Yes.

- Your dad obviously, you could tell, just by the way you talk about him, big influence on your life, he wasn't around when you started this.

What do you think he would think of it?

- He would park himself in that lobby and visit with every single customer that came through the door.

He would be thrilled.

I think one of the things that he loved so much about agriculture and farming, is that he felt like through that industry, he got to meet brand new people everyday and he loved meeting people.

As long as he was with people and livestock, he was happy.

And I think the barn would've provided that experience for him later in life in a way that he would've loved.

And I think just, now here I go, I was gonna try so hard not to cry.

- Now, don't you start.

- No, 'cause I can't, I usually.

- Can we tell a joke?

- Yeah, do something really ridiculous.

- What do you call it when you pile up a bunch of kittens?

- What?

- A meowtain.

- I like that, that's good.

I love kittens.

- It's a meowtain.

- Okay, that worked.

All right, I'm good, I got this.

Anyway, I think that my dad, much like I think farmers out there, your listeners, would be tickled pink and proud that his daughter is running her own business and following in those footsteps of entrepreneurship because I believe all farmers are entrepreneurs.

And I think that's what he'd proud of.

Tell me another joke.

- No, you make a good point, because honestly, I'm a farmer, right?

- Yeah.

- And I think what we appreciate more than actually passing on a farm or sticking with agriculture, is that entrepreneurial spirit, because that's what we struggle with our whole life.

And if you're farming and you've overcome it, it's not just farming, it's anybody that started their own.

- It is.

- So, I am sure, I am positive that he is looking down smiling at you and maybe thinking, oh I wish she could tell some funnier jokes.

(laughing) It's really cool.

- Funny guy.

- You built this thing, this Barn III, right, you're bringing a lot of joy to people, and that is not something to be overlooked.

- Yeah.

- Right, because there's so many times people could say, I built a bridge or I was part of that, what you do is you take someone's life and for a few moments or whatever, you make them smile.

I don't know if you can put a price on that.

- I know.

- I bet you try to.

(laughing) - I don't know though, my team always laughs is like, oh man, if we left Abby to her own devices, everything would be free, nobody would have to pay for anything.

I think my dad was extremely generous and I have gotten that quality.

So, I always have to be reminded, Abby, you do need to make a living off of this.

It is important.

I would love for everything to just be free.

But it's funny that you mentioned that, so before my life has taken a couple different turns, career-wise, so I went to college as a theater major, so I'll back track just a bit.

I was in the program for a couple of years, went to Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, and then very quickly was like wait, I don't know if that, I don't wanna go to New York or Chicago, and.

- Which is probably what you think you have to do, right?

- Yeah, and I think that a lot of the kids that go into that program, they're very driven, that's what they wanna do.

And I kept thinking, no, I want to be in my community, I want to stay on the farm.

And so, I ended up graduating with a degree in sociology, which always surprises everyone.

And then I went on and got my masters degree in counseling.

So, I'm actually a licensed therapist.

- Really?

- And I worked in higher education for almost 25 years, before I left.

- As a counselor?

- As a counselor, an academic advisor, and a professor.

So, I taught psychology classes.

- In college?

- Yeah.

- Oh wow.

- At universities all around Central Illinois.

And loved my career, was very passionate, in fact, just started my Phd program when the barn idea kind of hit.

All the planets aligned.

And so, I sat there with my mom and my husband, and said, if I don't do this, if I don't try, I'll always regret it.

I have to give this a shot.

And so, I left that field behind, turned right around, rebuilt a barn, now I do entertainment for a living.

But what I realize is that I bring mental health and mental wellness, music, laughter, good food, and social connection, are four of the top qualities that keep us happy and positive and joyful and healthy.

And now, I get to do it every night for like 215 people, bam, one shot.

Where as before, I was sitting one-on-one with students everyday, whatever, so to me, I feel like it's been this unique way of taking these skills.

- What were the four things again?

- Music.

- Okay.

- Food.

- Gotcha.

- Social connection.

- Uh huh.

- And laughter.

- It's nothing this show has.

We do have food right now.

- But, we have to thank our farmers, because they're contributing to that, one of those four core things that help people feel the best they possibly can.

And you've got laughter covered.

- Emily, my wife and producer, yes, I'm sleeping with my producer, but anyway.

- So unprofessional.

- She wrote out seven cards.

- Seven cards.

Did we cover anything on them?

- I am halfway through number two.

(laughing) Halfway through.

- I warned ya.

- So, you're gonna have to come back.

That much I know.

- Sounds good.

- But before we go, tell people how to find Barn III and what they expect when they go there.

- Well, first of all, expect food, laughter, social connection, and music, and beer cheese.

Five things, five things you can expect.

They can find information about the barn at www.thebarniii.com.

We're the roman numeral I.

- Do they have to be capitalized?

- No, they should be lowercase, if your browser doesn't like capitalization.

So, www.thebarniii.com.

Our box office is open Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.

They can always give us a call the good old fashion way, 309-965-2545.

- It'd be really cool if they put that down below.

- Yeah.

A little scrolling thing.

And then of course, - They hate when I do that.

- On social media, they can follow us on social media as well.

- What's your social media?

- Facebook, Instagram, I don't even know what my social media is.

Barn something.

- You should do the Barn and then the III.

- I think it's Barn.

- Hae you ever thought about that?

- Yeah, have you seen, my logo's pretty chill.

- Where's your.

- I don't even know if I, it's on the thing.

It's on the beer cheese.

- On the beer cheese?

- On the lid.

- Oh, I licked the other.

- There, see, the three's holding up the barn.

- Oh, I'll be damned.

- Yeah, look at that.

- All right.

- How great is that?

I'll send you my logo so you can, (laughing) so they can verify it.

- All right, Abby Reel, Barn III Theater, you're gonna come back next week.

- Sounds great.

I'll bring you more beer cheese.

- Hey, we'll see you then.

Thank you everybody, we'll catch ya next time.