Illinois Farm Bureau Partners

Photo credit: Nathan Lambrecht For nearly 30 years, Stade’s Farm & Market in McHenry County has been setting the gold standard for on-farm fun, attracting crowds with everything from U-pick green beans and apples to a theme park filled with carnival rides. The farm starts drawing visitors in June with the kickoff of strawberry picking. From there, the harvest continues throughout summer and fall with pick-your-own blueberries, raspberries, flowers, vegetables, apples and pumpkins.

Nick and Angie DeVolder of Stella Sawmill; Photo credit: Nathan Lambrecht Nick and Angie DeVolder don’t see a downed tree as a nuisance. They view felled trees as opportunities – and they give them a second life. The DeVolders operate Milan-based Stella Sawmill as a source for urban lumber, meaning wood salvaged from trees in urban settings such as streets, parks and residential yards, rather than harvested from forests.

Hattie and Dan Sanderson and their daughter, Rosie Trump, have implemented virtual fencing for cattle and other sustainable practices on the family’s Pasture Grazed Regenerative Farm in Clare. Photo credit: Nathan Lambrecht Pasture Grazed Regenerative Farm in Clare is all about family – past, present and future. The business, founded by Dan and Hattie Sanderson, first sprouted from a 4-H beef project in the 1990s.

Photo credit: Stephanie Mullins Looking for an easy and tasty noon meal? Whether you enjoy lunch at the office, at home or you’re looking for a few creative ideas for packing back-to-school lunches for the kids, these recipes will give you and your family the perfect midday boost. Photo credit: Stephanie Mullins Classic Cubano A Classic Cubano sandwich incorporates two types of pork – ham and pork loin – paired with Swiss cheese, dill pickles, mustard and mayo.

Photo credit: Nathan Lambrecht For a taste of local flavor to dazzle the senses, locals and tourists alike have been flocking to The Diver Down for more than 15 years. For owner Lesia Burns, this Golconda establishment allows her to carry on a family legacy of owning restaurants that began with her grandmother. With a long history in the area, Burns has customers and employees who have been with her from the start. “I grew up in this business,” Burns says.

Pope County Courthouse in Golconda; Photo credit: Nathan Lambrecht With leaves changing colors and pleasant temperatures, exploring the beauty of Pope County in southeastern Illinois makes for a fun fall getaway. In the county seat of Golconda, the historic buildings give off an enchanting vibe. “Take a walk down Main Street and you feel like you could be walking in an old Western or an old-time movie,” says Cathy Stapleton, Main Street Golconda office manager.

Photo credit: Joanie Stiers The day was sometime in March when I asked our son, then 4 years old, what he liked about the farm. His mind gravitated to fall, telling me he loves when corn “falls down,” riding in the tractor and eating in the field. Without naming the season, his response designated corn and soybean harvest as his favorite time on the farm, when corn appears to “fall down” from his seat in the cab of a harvesting combine with Grandpa.

Photo credit: Grace Beck Whether you run a handmade candle business, enjoy crafting your own candles for fun or are just looking to pick up a fun new hobby, Central Illinois Candle Supply is the perfect place to source your candle-making materials locally. Founded in 2022, the Colfax-based company, run by father-daughter team Kent Janssen and Lauren Wyant, sells high-quality, thoughtfully sourced supplies to candlemakers across the Midwest and beyond.

Photo credit: Phoebe Fuller At Augustana College in Rock Island, a student-run urban farm and club called Augie Acres contributes fresh food to both the college and community. Students cultivate a variety of fruits and vegetables for donation on about half of the 1-acre plot and plan to fill the unused portion with native plants.

Photo credit: Brandi Simpson Located just west of Peoria in Hanna City, Wildlife Prairie Park is the perfect destination for a memorable family adventure this fall. Spanning scenic woodlands and prairie, the unique zoological park features a 1.5-mile walking trail where visitors can encounter more than 60 species of animals native to the Midwest, including bison, elk, black bears, bobcats, cougars and many more.