Sangamon Sun

Frito-Lay, one of the largest snack food manufacturers in the United States, relies heavily on farmers in Illinois for the production of their popular potato chips. As Super Bowl Sunday approaches, millions of viewers will be enjoying their favorite Frito-Lay snacks while watching the big game.

The 2023 Super Bowl holds the record for the most-watched U.S.-based telecast of all time, with over 115 million viewers. This event has become more than just a football game, with extended pregame shows, live musical performances at halftime, and highly anticipated commercials. Super Bowl Sunday is treated like a national holiday in the U.S., where friends and family gather in large groups to enjoy day-long activities. This year's Super Bowl will take place on Sunday, February 11, in Las Vegas, with Usher as the halftime performer.

Frito-Lay has two corn processing plants in the United States, one in Nebraska and the Frito-Lay Midwest Corn Handling Facility in rural Champaign County, Illinois. Over 125 Illinois farmers within a 60-mile radius of the facility contribute their grain to the plant. Corn is a key component in producing potato chips, and these Illinois farmers play a vital role in providing the ingredients for Frito-Lay's popular snack treats.

One legendary farmer, Max Miller, earned the nickname "Frito man" in the 1960s. Miller's corn supply reached an impressive one million bushels per year, and he would ship corn to Frito-Lay facilities across the south and east coast. The connection between Illinois farmers and Frito-Lay was further solidified in 1983 with the opening of the corn processing plant in Sidney. Since then, any Frito-Lay potato chip brand bought in Illinois is made with corn from Illinois farms. Local farmers and employees at the Sidney facility take great pride in knowing their homegrown ingredients go directly into making Frito-Lay products that are stocked on local shelves.

Illinois farmers play a significant role in meeting the high demand for corn chips. At Krukewitt Farms in Champaign County, corn and soybeans are grown over 2,600 cultivated acres. Most of the corn produced is of high quality yellow and white variety, and it is contracted to Frito-Lay for the production of corn chips. The Decker brothers in Philo, also in Champaign County, grow white corn specifically for Frito-Lay.

As Super Bowl Sunday approaches, it is clear that the big game crunch starts with Illinois corn. The partnership between Frito-Lay and Illinois farmers ensures that Americans can enjoy their favorite potato chips while cheering on their favorite team. So as you sit back and watch the game, remember the hard work and dedication of the farmers who contribute to the production of these beloved snacks.