LA HARPE, Ill. (WGEM) - It’s been more than two years since a derecho destroyed all but one of the bins at the Roquette grain elevator in La Harpe. As of August 2025, all of those bins have been rebuilt from the ground up — and more than 150 area farmers gathered to celebrate the facility’s return Thursday, Oct. 30.

The new bins are larger, increasing the facility’s storage capacity from 760,000 bushels to 860,000, and features larger grain pits. The average dump time at the elevator has fallen from 15 minutes to just three.

Temperature cables were also installed to monitor grain quality inside the new bins.

Staff and farmers alike are glad the elevator is back from the grave, and have high praise for its upgraded space and tech.

“Roquette’s commitment [to] the... farmers in this are

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