The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
By Michael Rodeffer, The Quill
On Thursday, August 21, 2025, Richard Apt and his grandson Justin Sparrow hauled in the first load of corn to the newly constructed La Harpe Elevator so that a test run could be done on all their equipment and to make sure everything worked as planned.
This was the first load of corn unloaded at the Roquette La Harpe Elevator since June 29, 2023, when a derecho hit La Harpe and the surrounding area.
Winds from the derecho were clocked at over 120 miles an hour and lasted for a good thirty minutes or more.
At the La Harpe Elevator, the winds severely damaged everything except for one of 8 grain bins. The office building had minor damage to the outside of the building.
According to Mike Falk, manager of Roquette’s La Harpe and Blandinsville Elevators, the wreckage was cleaned up in the first few months.
All of the foundation for the old bins were torn out, and what remained of the bins were hauled away. Only one older bin was kept to be reused.
On November 6, 2024, Roquette officially started the rebuilding process. Construction was entrusted to Valley View Agri-Systems.
Four new bins on new foundations have been erected, and a new 1,200- bushel pit has been installed.
The new dump pit is large enough to allow semi-trailers to unload both hoppers at the same time which will allow for much quicker unloading than before.
With two 20,000 BPH grain legs, if one is ever unusable, the other grain leg can be used to receive corn or load out corn.
The new operation also has a dust collecting system for safety concerns. Also, the mechanical parts under the scales have been completely rebuilt.
The elevator will have a capacity of approximately 860,000 bushels. At this time, only corn will be received and stored at this site. The office building has also been remodeled with an addition added to the original building.
The office is now handicap accessible with two new handicap bathrooms, new flooring, new ceiling, new doors, repainted inside, new siding, new roof, new air conditioning and heating units.
On Friday, August 22, customers were allowed to start bringing in contracted corn.
Most of the corn received at the La Harpe Elevator is shipped out by railcars and goes to the Roquette corn wet milling facility in Keokuk, Iowa.
Mike Falk, noted that Roquette remains committed to serving the La Harpe and Blandinsville area and looks forward to doing business with all farmers old and new in the area.
He invites you to call the La Harpe Elevator at 217-659-7736 to discuss any questions you may have.
Mike Falk unloads Richard Apt's load of corn. Apt has been hauling grain to the La Harpe Elevator for seventy years.