COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: John and Ida Thurman
- CDC-PHP Media Communications
- Aug 11
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 13
Farmers, Builders, Community Leaders, and Keepers of the Land
“I wore out all four of these corners on the 4-Way. It’s what I do, who I am.”
— John Thurman
John Thurman was born in Pembroke Township, but in 1977 his family moved back to Mississippi, where his father was born and raised. Seventeen years later, John returned to Pembroke—bringing with him a deep connection to the community, a commitment to farming, and a determination to contribute to its future.
His wife, Ida, is from Mount Olive, Mississippi. Together, John and Ida have built a life rooted in farming, family, faith, craftsmanship, and community service.
The Thurmans are farmers and builders. John recalls that his father helped complete the brick section of Rehoboth Mennonite Church, a testament to the family's tradition of building things that endure. But John's deepest passion has always been agriculture.
Building a Cooperative Food Economy
In the late 1980s, John joined with a group of Pembroke farmers—including the BASUs, Mervin Gaye, and other local farmers—to establish a farmers' cooperative. Their vision went beyond simply selling crops. They wanted to use agriculture to strengthen the community as a whole.
The Pembroke Farmers Cooperative supplied food to elder Thurman's market on Chicago's West Side, following a historical connection between Pembroke's agricultural production and Chicago's urban food economy.
That vision continued into the next generation of community agricultural organizing.
In 2001, the Pembroke farmers received support from Heifer International to educate small family farms, provide seed resources, and help farmers develop livestock and market crops.
The project helped give rise to the Pembroke Farming Family Association (PFF), which expanded opportunities for Pembroke farmers to sell their products at farmers' markets throughout Chicago.
PFF ultimately spearheaded more than seven farmers' markets across the Chicago area, several of which continue to operate today. John served as president of the organization for nearly a decade.
For John, this work was never simply about farming. It was about creating an economic system in which local people could produce, sell, purchase, and benefit from one another's work.
“It’s What I Do, Who I Am.”
Today, John continues to farm and operate his own community farm stand at the four-way intersection in Hopkins Park.
He has a building he could operate from, but his priority remains getting fresh produce directly to people.
“I wore out all four of these corners on the 4-Way. It’s what I do, who I am.”
The farm is also part of a larger family agricultural network that extends beyond Illinois. The Thurman family maintains a farm in Mississippi, allowing the two family farms to complement one another. The Mississippi farm can provide early-season crops, while the Pembroke operation provides later-season production.
This intergenerational and cross-regional approach reflects an old agricultural principle: family, land, and resources can be shared across places to sustain one another.
A Family of Community Service
John and Ida's commitment to Pembroke extends well beyond farming.
Both served on the Pembroke District Library Board, with John serving for approximately 12 years and Ida for approximately eight years. Their daughter, Veronica, continued the family's tradition of public service by serving as the library administrator.
The Thurman’s have nine children—five daughters and four sons—and their children have also contributed to the family farm. Some have remained in the community, while others have moved in and out of Pembroke in search of opportunities.
For John, however, family responsibility is closely connected to community responsibility.
“When you come to the table, you ought to bring something; otherwise, you are just a taker.”
That philosophy captures much of what the Thurman’s have demonstrated throughout their lives: community is sustained when people contribute what they can.
Why Pembroke?
When asked what he likes about Pembroke, John's answer is simple:
“Everything.”
He values the rural environment and appreciates the new people who are coming into the community. Most importantly, he values the fact that local families have retained ownership of their land.
“They didn't take the land from us. If we ever lost it, it's because we gave it away.”
For John, land ownership carries responsibility. It is not simply an economic asset—it represents independence, heritage, opportunity, and a foundation for future generations.
He is particularly concerned about younger generations becoming disconnected from the land and from the wisdom of elders.
A Message to the Community
John has a straightforward message for Pembroke:
“I hear a lot of complaints, but we can never have anything sustainable if we don't support it. And in reality, you don't have a say-so if you don't support it. That's how we survive over time. We support each other.”
His words offer a powerful lesson for community development and sustainability: ownership requires participation, and sustainability requires support.
The Thurmans' story demonstrates that community resilience is built over decades—not through a single program or project, but through farmers showing up, families contributing, neighbors supporting one another, and elders passing knowledge to the next generation.
A Legacy Still in Motion
John's story is far from finished.
He continues to farm, sell produce, serve his community, and encourage others to contribute rather than simply consume. From the fields of Pembroke to the farmers' markets of Chicago, his work has helped demonstrate the economic and cultural value of local agriculture.
And, as the community celebrates another farmers' market season, “Waving Farmer John” remains a familiar presence—still greeting neighbors, still selling produce, and still reminding Pembroke that the future of the community depends on what its people are willing to build and support together.
Author: Louise Campbell-Anthony
Edited by: Johari Cole-Kweli
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