Celebrating the Wonderful Agriculture of Illinois with Fun Facts and Local Waukegan Area U-Pick Farms for National Farmer’s Day

Today is National Farmers’ Day.  Without the efforts of these hardworking farming professionals, we would not have access to so many resources or such abundant food sources.  Farming is an absolutely essential part of the American economy.  In fact, agricultural and food industries support more than 20 million jobs nationwide and account for nearly 10% of all US Employment (USDA.)  It’s vital that we continue to do our part to support family owned farms and agricultural businesses.  Family farms also make up about 99% of the 2million plus farms over more than 895 million acres across the country, according to USDA.  

Small-scale farming, as opposed to industrial agriculture, also has a beneficial impact on the biodiversity of our environment.  A variety of farming methods and crops/livestock can lead to better soil, healthier and more vigorous crops, healthy pollinators, promotion of a healthy lifecycle in the local environment, less land erosion, efficient water conservation and better quality of life overall.  Let’s all do our part to support efforts for a greener tomorrow and increase access to affordable foods through agricultural support.

Check out our list of fun farming facts about Illinois, and then call your friends and family and invite them out to a day on the farm for an up-close-and-personal experience with agriculture and local businesses!

Fun Facts About Farming in Illinois

Impress your friends and family on the road trip to your favorite apple picking or pumpkin picking farm and entertain them on the drive with these great fun facts.

• There are more than 75,000 farms in Illinois!
• Nearly 75% of the land in Illinois is farmland, covering close to 27 million acres
• Illinois has very versatile soil with 1,500 different types which can accommodate a wide variety of crops, and thanks to minerals deposited by glaciers and abundant prairie growth, Illinois has some of the world’s most fertile topsoil
• Farm operators account for around ~75,000 out of the 1,000,000 people employed by the food and fiber industry across Illinois
• More than 90% of Illinois farms are still family owned and operated businesses
• Iroquois County in Illinois has the most farms in the state with a total of 1,516 farms
• Illinois is one of the top leading producers of soybean, corn, and swine
• In 2022, the average value of farmland real estate was $8,900 per acre, up more than 12% from 2021
• The average size for a farm in Illinois is about 375 acres

Best Nearby U-Pick Farms and Orchards (in Alphabetical order!)

Get down and dirty at these U-Pick farms and orchards which offer berry picking, flower picking, apple picking, pumpkin picking and much more!  Grab your locally grown produce and ready-made meals at their farm stands so you can enjoy a fresh made family meal to end your fun day outside!

• Abbey Farms in Aurora, IL
• All Seasons Orchard in Woodstock, IL
• Apple Holler in Sturtevant, WI
• Berryville Farm in Racine, WI
• Creuziger’s Land of the Giants Pumpkin Farm in Sturtevant, WI
• Didier Farms in Prairie View, IL
• Goebbert’s Farm & Garden Center in South Barrington, IL
• Hafs Road Orchard in Genoa City, WI
• Heinz Orchard in Green Oaks, IL
• Homestead Orchard in Woodstock, IL
• Kuipers Family Farm in Maple Park, IL
• Prairie Sky Orchard in Union, IL
• Richardson Farms in Spring Grove, IL
• Royal Oak Farm Orchard in Harvard, IL
• Rustic Road Farm in Elburn, IL
• Stade’s Farm and Market in McHenry, IL
• The Farm at Westmont, IL
• Thompson’s Strawberry Farm in Bristol, WI

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