Our Story

The Corn Crib was founded in 2008 by Donnie and Shirley Ahrens to provide Southern Illinois and Western Kentucky with a source of farm-fresh produce.

Donnie and Shirley Ahrens have been in the sweet corn industry for decades, having been part of creating and growing the Mirai brand sweet corn, which went on to dominate the fresh sweet corn market. Donnies experience growing sweet corn and other vegetables is unmatched, as he has managed tens of thousands of acres of vegetables over the past 70-plus years.

The Corn Crib started as a small roadside stand selling Mirai sweet corn and a variety of other produce. From there the quality of the sweet corn and produce sold itself. Quickly becoming loved by thousands in the area, Donnie and Shirley continued to dedicate their time and efforts to growing quality sweet corn.

Grandkids Lana, Micah, and Kyle Shirel have grown up working alongside and learning from Donnie and Shirley in the field and at The Corn Crib. From a very young age, they too developed a passion for farming, growing things, and the agricultural industry as a whole. It is their dream to continue the legacy of The Corn Crib set forth by Donnie and Shirley. They plan to continue to learn, adapt, and strive to provide Southern Illinois and Western Kentucky with a source of quality sweet corn and fresh vegetables.

Not only do they have a passion for growing vegetables and commodity crops but also raising livestock, primarily Angus cattle. Growing up spending countless hours feeding, tending to, and building an exceptional cattle herd.

This has created the opportunity to provide The Corn Crib customers and many others in Southern Illinois and Western Kentucky with a source of farm-fresh, locally raised produce and meats.