We're in zone 5a..

This is less landscape design and more a shrubs question, so you might want to ask on the shrub forum. You might want to include a bit more info.

What is your general location?

What is the soil like in this spot - acid or neutral or alkaline, clay or sandy or loamy? Is the drainage good? Is it on a slope? What is the sun/shade situation, and is it the same the whole length? Can you add a photo? Are you interested in a more formal line of hedge that's all one kind of plant or a mixed shrub border? How long a stretch are you considering, and do you want it only along the street or along the sides and/or back as well? How much width do you plan to use? Do you have a minimum or maximum height in mind?

Ok... I just now put it on the shrubs forum too. Its along a field, would be maybe 50 ft of hedge. I have never had the soil tested so not sure what its like.

Will you only live in the house is Summer? I think that could influence plant choices.

No, year around, but summer is when we'll be using our patio.

In a wide open space like that there would be many shrubs you could select from for a screen, each with their own personality and requirements. University of Illinois has a pretty good site for searching plants. If you Google, "shrubs for Illinois", then select "search by size" & "medium", I think you will find a fairly good number of choices. You can discuss any of the contenders on the shrubs forum.

kymbrea, this isn't a criticism or snark, but writing from the suburbs of LA I've got to ask, privacy from what? Wildlife? If I had that view from my yard I know that privacy would be far down on my list. Why would you want to close off that view with a hedge?

Rather than a monoculture of a single species planting, I'd encourage you to investigate a hedgerow or a mixed shrub planting. And allow them to grow into their natural size and shape without unnecessary pruning........you certainly have the room available for it!!

The advantage of a hedgerow or mixed shrub planting is that you reduce the possibility that a disease or pest problem specific to a particular plant will wipe out individual specimens, leaving gaps in your hedge that will need to be replaced. This can still happen but the other plant species will generally just take that opportunity to fill in and the missing or dead plant won't be as noticeable. And certainly so if the hedge is not sheared or pruned into a uniform shape! The other advantage is that multiple plant species can offer an extended period of interest with different leaf shapes and seasonal color and with different bloom times. Aesthetically, this diversity of shapes, colors and textures is far more appealing than just a single plant species repeated endlessly. A hedgerow/mixed shrub planting is also an excellent opportunity to encourage and provide a habitat for various wildlife - birds, butterflies, bees, etc.

NHbabs has a garden with some gorgeous mixed shrub borders and hopefully she will visit this thread and can share some photos. Hers is not intended as a hedgerow per se but the concept can be easily extrapolated to that purpose.

Kent, I figured someone would comment on that. ;) there are neighbors you can't see in the pic, though they are a ways down the road. We are the only neighbors they have to entertain them though, haha.