Boone and Ogle County Farm Strolls Set for October

OREGON — The University of Illinois Extension will host its annual Boone County and Ogle County Farm Strolls in October, giving families and visitors an opportunity to tour local farms, meet producers and learn more about agriculture. The Boone County Farm Stroll will be held Sunday, Oct. 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and allows visitors to choose which farms they want to visit and create their own route. Participating farms are Alpaca Pines Farm & Fiber Mill, DieHard Dairy & T J’s Farm Market, Farmers Rising, Illinois Wool and Fiber Mill, Meyers Family Farm, Nature’s Best Trees & Honey, Paulson’s Ag Museum, Trogg’s Hollow CSA and Market Farm, and Winding Path Farms Branching Out Inc. The Ogle County Farm Stroll will take place Sunday, Oct. 11, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will feature Barnhart’s Stone Corner, BerryView Orchard, Dietrich Ranch LLC, Happily Homegrown, Hinrichs Farm, Hough’s Maple Lane Farm, Jen’s Sunshine Farm, Orion Organics, Ponto Ranch and Triple Creek Bison. The Ogle County Extension Office at 421 W. Pines Road in Oregon also will be open during the stroll with an informational table, a craft and restrooms. Farms will offer a variety of activities and opportunities to learn about livestock, crops, conservation, specialty operations, fiber arts and homesteading, with some locations offering products for purchase. Both events will be held rain or shine, and visitors are encouraged to dress for outdoor conditions and wear comfortable shoes. Directional signs will be posted at each farm with the host’s address and a QR code for directions. Visitors are asked to leave pets at home for the safety of farm animals and guests. The Farm Strolls are organized by University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners in partnership with local producers and community organizations. The Boone County event is sponsored by the Winnebago Boone Farm Bureau, while the Ogle County event is sponsored by Compeer Financial and Stillman Bank. For more information, contact the Boone County Extension Office at 815-544-3710 or the Ogle County Extension Office at 815-732-2191.