McHenry Times

2022 McHenry County Farm Stroll

Event Date(s)

September 25, 2022

Event Time: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Location: McHenry County

County McHenry

Come out for an autumn day in the country! On Sunday, Sept. 25, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., McHenry County will host its annual Farm Stroll, a free self-guided tour of the county’s diversified family farms. A total of 11 farms will be part of this educational agriculture-centric tour. Fruits and vegetables, dairy and beef cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, turkeys, horses, honeybees, perennial plants, and more will be featured within these 11 farms.

Because this is a family-friendly, free, self-guided tour, there is no beginning or end of the route—just choose the farms that interest you and visit them during the designated timeframe -- from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Farm Stroll is organized by the McHenry County Farm Bureau, University of Illinois Extension, and the Center for Agrarian Learning. McHenry County Extension Master Gardener and 4-H volunteers will be onsite to assist farm families in accommodating guests and conducting demonstrations and tours.

There is no charge for the Farm Stroll, but most farms will be selling food, produce or other farm-related products. Bring cash to purchase items directly from the farmers. Bring a cooler, too.

Remember, these are working farms: dress appropriately, and supervise children at all times. No pets, please. A few farms will have toilet facilities, but most do not.

Visit McHenry County Farm Bureau for more info at mchenrycfb.org or call 815-338-1520. Also visit University of Illinois Extension at extension.illinois.edu/lm or call 815-338-3737. If an accommodation is needed in order to participate, please email sfarley@illinois.edu. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet an individual’s access needs.

Farm Stroll 2022 Featured Farms

Wanda Farm - 17419 Hebron Rd., Harvard   

  Wanda Farm is a first-generation regenerative farm run by Joe

  and Hannah Wanda. Wanda Farm raises and sells grass-fed

  beef, pastured heritage pigs, pasture-raised chicken and laying

  hens. Their mission is to connect the consumer with their food;

  believing that knowing your farmer goes beyond all the food

  labeling. Wandafarm.net; 815-354-8700. 

 Hephzibah Farms, Inc. - 13202 Hebron Rd., Hebron

  Hephzibah Farms, run by the Millers, sells grass-fed beef and

  lamb, pastured raised pork, chicken, eggs, and turkeys. They

  will be selling alpaca drier balls, socks, home-baked goods, and

  products from local vendors--soap, jam, flavored popcorn,

  cheese, chocolates and honey scrubs. Hephzibahfarms.com;

  847-530-7373. Toilets available.

Patyk’s Farm Market and Greenhouse - 8519 Route 173, Richmond

  John and Myra Patyk's working farm has much to explore from the flower-filled greenhouses

  to the many farm animals and the cutest mini cows! You'll find meat from their grass-fed cattle

  and goats as well as chickens, turkey and pork. Fresh chicken eggs, homemade goat milk soap

  and freshly harvested fruits and vegetables will be available. Angie's Bees will offer beeswax

  products (honey, lotions, scrubs etc.) for sale. PatykFarms.com; (847) 710-8732. Toilets available.

 Soulful Prairies - 4706 Alden Rd., Woodstock  

  Linda Bruce and her family began this farm with the desire to create a

  safe place for humans to heal with the support of horses, animals

  and nature. It has blossomed into a space for Equine Gestalt

  Therapy, a farm, and a farm stand, bee hives, fairies' walking

  paths and a labyrinth. They will sell homegrown, pesticide-free

  produce, honey and more. Soulfulprairies.com; 847-366-6743.

 Terra Vitae Farms - 2208 Greenwood Rd., Woodstock 

  Kevin and Katie Kelley have partnered with their daughter and son in law,

  Colleen and Mike Biver, to develop a regenerative farm focused on producing the

  healthiest meat conceivably possible while leaving the land in better condition than before they started.

  Their approach focuses on biodiversity at every level: microbiome, flora and fauna. Come

  experience their ever-evolving ecosystem and the diverse heritage breeds of livestock.

  Meat will be sold at their new location and farm store. Info@terravitaefarms.com; (815) 345-4047.

 Lazy K Ranch - 18209 Collins Rd., Woodstock  

  The Lazy K Ranch is a small family farm offering horse

  boarding, riding lessons, custom hay baling, and farm-fresh eggs.

  Visit horses, donkeys, chickens, see antique tractors, and learn

  how their solar installation works. An established stop on

  Autumn Drive, they will have vendors on premises for the Stroll.

  Facebook.com/lazykranchwoodstock; (815) 715-2070.

Cody’s Farm and Orchard - 19502 River Road, Marengo

  Cody’s is a family-owned business, run by the Purdoms, selling

  fresh homegrown fruit, vegetables and apple cider donuts. They

  have a market at the farm, plus two mobile farm stands. Cody’s

  offers seasonal vegetables, sweet corn, pumpkin and apple

  picking. They also have goats, cows, rabbits, a corn maze, and

  lunch options. Codysfarm.com; (815) 568-7976. Toilets available.

 Broadview Farm and Gardens - 18720 IL Route 176, Marengo  

  Farmers Tim and Delicia Brown aim to serve their community

  and others with a variety of responsibly grown vegetables, fruits,

  meat, and eggs. They pledge to keep their practices transparent

  and holistic with the goal of sustainability using minimal

  amounts of machinery and outside labor.

  Broadviewfarmandgardens.com; (815) 814-0030.

 HillBunker Farms - 4915 Dean Street, Woodstock

  Damon and Michele Hill run what they call an 'experiential hobby farm' committed to

  natural food and healthy products. They are registered breeders of Kune Kune Pigs and

  Babydoll sheep. In addition to fresh eggs, local honey, seasonal vegetables. and a variety

  of hand-crafted products, they have a limited supply of humanely raised pork and lamb meat

  available for purchase. The farm is famous for the 1915 caboose sitting on train tracks by the pond.

  HillBunkerFarms.com; (815) 337-1622.

 Vanderstappen Farm - 12908 Hebron Rd., Hebron  NEW 2022

 This farm is a true family affair, run by David and Katie Vanderstappen and

 their five young children with the help of extended family members. A third generation farm,

 it has been transformed in recent years using the newest

 agricultural technology to raise and milk 150 Holstein cows and raise a small

 Angus herd from calves. As a hobby, David keeps and trains a large flock of homing

 pigeons. Dairy promotional products will be given away at this site.

 Vanderstappenkatie@yahoo.com; (815) 687-6528.

All Grass Farms - 18N681 IL Route 31, Dundee  

  Cliff McConville and Anna Lipinska produce grass-fed beef,

  licensed raw Guernsey milk, as well as pasture-raised chicken,

  eggs, turkeys, and pork in a regenerative pasture-based farming

  system. All products are organically raised and sold in the onsite

  farm store. They will run hay wagon farm tours during Farm

  Stroll. Allgrassfarms.com; 847-852-7081. Toilets available.

Find the PDF of this year's Farm Stroll brochure here.

Original source can be found here.