2024 McHenry County Farm Stroll

Sunday, September 29, 2024 from 10 AM to 4 PM

Farm Stroll is a self-guided tour of McHenry County’s
diversified family farms. There is no beginning or end of the tour,
just choose the farms you wish to visit and go during the stroll’s time frame.

There is no charge for Farm Stroll. However, bring some cash;
individual farmers will be selling products and produce.

Some farms will conduct tours and demonstrations. Follow the
farmers’ instructions, respect the animals, and watch your children.
Do not bring pets. Wash your hands after exposure to livestock.

If 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 2024: Featured Farms

NEW Jorge’s Farm, 6710 S Oak Grove Rd., Harvard

Jorge Guereca and family run Jorge’s Farm on 40 acres with fruit trees flowers and veggies.

They offer a “u-pick” area in late summer and a farm stand, both will be open during the stroll.

They also supply area grocery stores with their large array of veggies, including 30,000 peppers.

Jorge will be answering questions in Spanish and English.

The SNAP-Ed staff will be available with healthy recipes and info. (815) 790-0018 - Toilets available.

Piscasaw Gardens, 9306 Lawrence Rd., Harvard

Piscasaw Gardens is run by the Kinney family. Their mission is to cultivate bonds of community through the abundance of farming.

They grow cut-flowers and vegetables at their main location, and Mirai sweet corn, popcorn seed, and perennial flowers elsewhere. Their bouquets, bulk flowers, popcorn, and vegetables are sold at farmers markets and at their farm store.

The store will be open with field maps for self-guided tours of the property.

Piscasaw.com - (608) 352-3236

Wanda Farm, 17419 Hebron Rd., Harvard

Wanda Farm is a first-generation regenerative farm operated by Joe and Hannah Wanda.

They raise grass-fed beef, heritage pigs, pasture-raised chickens, and laying hens. Their products are shipped directly to consumers via their e-commerce website.

They are on a mission to help families conveniently eat healthier with better tasting, quality meat from a farmer they trust. Their farm store will be open. Farm tours and kid activities will be offered.

Food Truck on site.

Wandafarms.com - (815) 354-8700

NEW Middlebury Farms, 10107 Alden Rd., Harvard

Middlebury Farms is operated by Peter and Elizabeth Grubbe, growing a variety of certified organic vegetables, herbs, fruit, and flowers on ten acres.

They bring organic produce to their community with a CSA Farm Box program and to farmers markets and restaurants.

Visit their fields to see where they grow and to learn what it takes to be an organic farm in McHenry County.

Vegetables, herbs, and flowers will be for sale.

Middleburyfarms.com

Hephzibah Farms Inc, 13202 Hebron Rd., Hebron

Hephzibah Farms sits on 160 acres, is run by the Millers and believes in ‘beyond organic’ practices when raising their meat and vegetables.

The farm store is stocked with beef, lamb, goat, chicken, and pork that they raise naturally along with eggs and vegetables.

The store also has baked goods from the farm along with items from local vendors like tallow lotion, natural health and beauty products, gourmet popcorn, chocolate and candies.

Hephzibahfarms.com - (847) 530-7373

Soulful Prairies, 4706 Alden Rd., Woodstock

Soulful Prairies is an Equine Gestalt Therapy and Retreat Center on 80 acres.

They welcome you to come explore the property, meet the fairies in the forest and take time to nuzzle a horse, goat or one of our other animal friends.

They will offer two Equine Gestalt demos at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Soulshine Farm will be selling their produce and offering farm tours at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Food Truck on site.

soulfulprairies.com

Sun Berry Orchard, 2318 Greenwood Rd., Woodstock

Sergiy and Tanya Bazylyuk and family own Sun Berry Orchardon 30 acres dedicated to diverse fruit production with over 150
apple varieties, from the newest hybrids to cherished heirlooms plus peaches, plums and apricots.

Take hayrides to apple picking while savoring the fresh air and visit the pasture-raised animals.

See ethical and sustainable farming practices.

Their produce stand will be open with fruits and vegetables from the fields.

sunberryorchardfarm.com - (847) 404-7555

NEW Bull Valley Farm Country Store and Cow Valley Creamery, 8815 IL Route 120, Bull Valley

The Aavang extended family has been farming in McHenry County since the 1840s. This working family farm on 76 acres is home to dairy cows and a creamery where their milk is freshly bottled.

Crops including pumpkins are grown in the fields. Their Country Store sells their milk, beef, pork, and chicken and carries a wide variety of items from local farmers and small midwestern businesses.

Bvfamilyfarm.com - (815) 333-6840

NEW Hitch N'Post Alpaca and llama Farm, 1406 Park Lane Dr, Woodstock

Jeff, CJ, and daughter Julie, operate Hitch’N Post Alpaca and Llama Farm.

They work with the VA helping veterans with PTSD find peace working with these gentle animals.

The Country Cottage is filled with beautiful natural fiber products such as socks and blankets all made onsite.

Jeff’s rehabbed whiskey and wine barrel items will also be available, plus local vendors will show off their artistic creations.

Hitchnpostalpacafarm.com - (815) 979-6939

Lazy K Ranch, 18209 Collins Rd.,Woodstock

The Lazy K Ranch is a small-scale family farm active in 4-H. With the help of 2nd and 3rd generation family, the farm offers horse boarding, riding lessons, costumed pony and donkey appearances, plus custom hay baling, farm-fresh eggs, and raw honey.

Visit the animals, enjoy fall photo ops, see antique tractors, and learn about their solar installation.

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

Facebook.com/lazykranchwoodstock (815) 715-2070

McHenry County College Student Farm, 8900 US Hwy 14, Crystal Lake

The MCC Student Farm is a demonstration of specialty crop systems for the small to mid-scale farmer.

The two high tunnels allow for year-round production growing certified organic vegetables.

Trellised fruit trees and hops plus ornamentaland native gardens, serve as an "outdoor classroom" in our Entrepreneurial Agriculture and Horticulture degree programs
and in workshops offered by the Center for Agrarian Learning.

The student-run produce stand will be open.
mchenry.edu/cal - (815) 479-7563

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

This event is sponsored by