$6,000,000 Promissory Note between Horizon Farms, Inc. and Methode Electronics, Inc. dated April 15, 2001

     FOR VALUE RECEIVED, Horizon Farms, Inc.(“Borrower”) promises to pay to the order of Methode Electronics, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Lender”) the principal sum of Six Million and no/100 Dollars ($6,000,000.00) (“Loan”), at the place and in the manner hereinafter provided, together with interest from the date hereof on the balance of the principal remaining from time-to-time unpaid at the rates described below.

     During the period commencing as of the date hereof (“Loan Opening Date”) and continuing thereafter through June 30, 2003 (“Maturity Date”), interest shall accrue on the outstanding principal balance of the Loan remaining from time-to-time unpaid under this Note prior to the Maturity Date at a rate of 5.25% per annum (“Loan Rate”).

     Interest accruing on the principal outstanding shall be: (a) computed on the basis of a year consisting of 365 days, (b) compounded semi-annually on the anniversary hereof, and (c) charged for the actual number of days within each monthly period in which any amounts remain outstanding under the Loan.

     The Loan shall be repaid on the Maturity Date with all accrued interest.

     This Note may be prepaid in whole or in part at any time and any prepayments shall be applied first against any interest then unpaid, and next against the next installments of principal coming due.

     After the Maturity Date, or the earlier acceleration of the indebtedness evidenced by this Note, or if said indebtedness has not been accelerated, during any period in which an Event of Default (as hereinafter defined) exists under this Note or any of the Loan Documents, Maker shall pay interest on the balance of principal remaining unpaid during any such period at an annual rate equal to two percent (2%) plus the applicable Loan Rate then in effect under this Note. The interest accruing under this paragraph shall be immediately due and payable by Maker to the holder of this Note on demand and shall be additional indebtedness evidenced by this Note.

     All payments of principal and interest hereunder shall be paid in coin or currency which, at the time or times of payment, is the legal tender for public and private debts in the United States of America and shall be made at such place as Lender or the legal holder or holders of this Note may from time to time appoint, and in the absence of such appointment, then at the offices of Lender at 7401 West Wilson Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60706-4548. Payment submitted in funds not available until collected shall continue to bear interest until collected. If payment hereunder becomes due and payable on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday under the laws of the State of Illinois, the due date thereof shall be extended to the next succeeding business day, and interest shall be payable thereon at the then applicable interest rate during such extension.

     Notwithstanding any provisions of this Note or any instrument securing payment of the indebtedness evidenced by this Note to the contrary, it is the intent of Maker and Lender that Lender shall never be entitled to receive, collect or apply as interest on principal of the indebtedness, any amount in excess of the maximum rate of interest permitted to be charged by applicable law; and if under any circumstance whatsoever, fulfillment of any provision of this Note, at the time performance of such provision shall be due, shall involve transcending the limit of validity prescribed by applicable law, then, ipso facto, the obligation to be fulfilled shall be reduced to the limit of such validity; and in the event Lender ever receives, collects or applies as interest any such excess, such amount which would be excess interest shall be deemed a permitted partial prepayment of principal and treated hereunder as such; and if the principal of the indebtedness secured hereby is paid in full, any remaining excess funds shall forthwith be paid to Maker. In determining whether or not interest of any kind payable hereunder, under any specific contingency, exceeds the highest lawful rate, Maker and Lender shall, to the maximum extent permitted under applicable law, (1) characterize any non-principal payment as an expense, fee or premium rather than as interest and (2) amortize, prorate, allocate and spread, to the end that the interest on account of such indebtedness does not exceed the maximum amount permitted by applicable law; provided that if the amount of interest received for the actual period of existence thereof exceeds the maximum lawful rate, Lender shall refund to Maker the amount of such excess. Lender shall not be subject to any penalties provided by any laws for contracting for, charging or receiving interest in excess of the maximum lawful rate.

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     This Note and any and all other liabilities and obligations and indebtedness of Maker to Lender, whether such liabilities, obligation or indebtedness are now existing or hereafter created, direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, joint or several, due or to become due, howsoever created, arising or evidenced, and howsoever acquired by Lender, are secured, inter alia, by the Mortgage and Security Agreement (the “Mortgage”) of even date herewith made by Maker to Lender creating a mortgage lien on certain real property (the “Premises”) legally described in Exhibit 1 attached to the Mortgage (the Mortgage and any other document or instrument securing this Note or delivered to induce Lender to disburse the proceeds evidenced hereby are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Loan Documents”). Reference is hereby made to the Loan Documents (which are incorporated herein by reference as fully and with the same effect as if set forth herein at length) for a legal description of the Premises, a statement of the covenants and agreements contained therein, a statement of the rights, remedies, and security afforded thereby, and all matters therein contained.

     The occurrence of any one or more of the following events shall constitute an “Event of Default” under this Note:

     At the election of the holder hereof, and without notice, the principal balance remaining unpaid under this Note, and all unpaid interest accrued thereon, shall be and become immediately due and payable in full in the case of the occurrence of any Event of Default. Failure to exercise this option shall not constitute a waiver of the right to exercise same in the event of any subsequent Event of Default. No holder hereof shall, by any act of omission or commission, be deemed to waive any of its rights, remedies or powers hereunder or otherwise unless such waiver is in writing and signed by the holder hereof, and then only to the extent specifically set forth therein. The rights, remedies and powers of the holder hereof, as provided in this Note, the Mortgage and in all of the other Loan Documents are cumulative and concurrent, and may be pursued against the Premises and any other security given at any time to secure the repayment hereof, all at the sole discretion of the holder hereof. If any suit or action is instituted or attorneys are employed to collect this Note or any part thereof, or for the protection or enforcement of any or all of the security for this Note, whether or not any lawsuit is filed with respect thereto, Maker promises and agrees to pay all costs and expenses of every kind and nature of collection, protection and enforcement including reasonable attorneys’ fees and court costs.

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     Maker, any guarantor, and all others who now or may at any time become liable for all or any part of the obligations evidenced hereby, expressly agree hereby to be jointly and severally bound, and jointly and severally: (i) waive and renounce any and all homestead, redemption and exemption rights and the benefit of all valuation and appraisement privileges against the indebtedness evidenced by this Note or by any extension or renewal hereof; (ii) waive presentment and demand for payment, notices of nonpayment and of dishonor, protest of dishonor, and notice of protest; (iii) waive any and all notices in connection with the delivery and acceptance hereof and all other notices in connection with the performance, default, or enforcement of the payment hereof or hereunder, except as otherwise expressly provided in the Loan Documents; (iv) waive any and all lack of diligence and delays in the enforcement of the payment hereof; (v) agree that the liability of each Maker, guarantor, endorser or obligor shall be unconditional and without regard to the liability of any other person or entity for the payment hereof, and shall not in any manner be affected by any indulgence or forbearance granted or consented to by Lender to any of them with respect hereto; (vi) consent to any and all extensions of time, renewals, waivers, or modifications that may be granted by Lender with respect to the payment or other provisions hereof, and to the release of any security at any time given for the payment hereof, or any part thereof, with or without substitution, and to the release of any person or entity liable for the payment hereof; and (vii) consent to the addition of any and all other makers, endorsers, guarantors, and other obligers for the payment hereof, and to the acceptance of any and all other security for the payment hereof, and agree that the addition of any such makers, endorsers, guarantors or other obligers, or security shall not affect the liability of Maker.

     The proceeds of the loan evidenced by this Note will be used solely for the purposes specified in 815 ILCS 205/4 (1993), as amended, and the principal sum advanced is for a business loan which comes within the purview of such section. Maker agrees that the obligation evidenced by this Note is an exempted transaction under the Truth-In-Lending Act, 15 U.S.C., Section 1601, et seq.

     Time is of the essence hereof.

     This Note is governed and controlled as to validity, enforcement, interpretation, construction, effect and in all other respects by the statutes, substantive laws and decisions of the State of Illinois. This Note may not be changed or amended orally but only by an instrument in writing signed by the party against whom enforcement of the change or amendment is sought.

     Lender shall in no event be construed for any purpose to be a partner, joint venturer, agent or associate of Maker or any beneficiary thereof or of any lessee, operator, concessionaire or licensee of Maker or any beneficiary thereof in the conduct of their respective businesses, and by the execution of this Note, Maker agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold Lender harmless from and against any and all damages, costs, expenses and liability that may be incurred by Lender as a result of a claim that Lender is such partner, joint venturer, agent or associate.

     This Note has been made and delivered at Chicago, Illinois and all funds disbursed to or for the benefit of Maker will be disbursed in Chicago, Illinois.

     In the event one or more of the provisions contained in this Note shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect by a court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of this Note, and this Note shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein or therein.

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     This Note and any and all other liabilities and obligations and indebtedness of Maker to Lender, whether such liabilities, obligation or indebtedness are now existing or hereafter created, direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, joint or several, due or to become due, howsoever created, arising or evidenced, and howsoever acquired by Lender, are secured, inter alia, by the Mortgage and Security Agreement (the “Mortgage”) of even date herewith made by Maker to Lender creating a junior mortgage lien on certain real property (the “Premises”) legally described in Exhibit 1 attached to the Mortgage (the Mortgage and any other document or instrument securing this Note or delivered to induce Lender to disburse the proceeds evidenced hereby are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Loan Documents”). Reference is hereby made to the Loan Documents (which are incorporated herein by reference as fully and with the same effect as if set forth herein at length) for a legal description of the Premises, a statement of the covenants and agreements contained therein, a statement of the rights, remedies, and security afforded thereby, and all matters therein contained.

     Maker has executed this Note as of the day and year first written above.