Featured Farmer: Our Interview with the Lake County Farm Bureau

What an honor to be contacted by the Lake County Farm Bureau to be a Featured Farmer! We’ve been on this property just less than 4 years now, we feel so fortified knowing what we’re doing in our community is not just making an impact, but allowing our greater community to become aware of what’s happening here! It’s really a testament to our friends and neighbors who keep talking and sharing us!

We usually say this property is going through a renaissance we’re trying to return it to the useful and vibrant place it held in this area many decades ago. Little by little, pieces are falling into place, and disrepair and neglect are turning into functional and loved! There is so much more ahead, just wait!!! As Al Pacino once said, “Oh I’m just getting warmed up!”

I’ve put the article below for your reading pleasure, but please visit the website for the Lake County Farm Bureau and see other farms in the vicinity that also deserve your attention and support. Farms that get the love and support of their community will do so in return, strengthening our microeconomy, and provides more access to what really matters for your family.

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Borrowed from the Lake County Farm Bureau Website – 7/31/25

Lake County Farmer Feature: Hop & Hen Farm

Tucked away on five acres in Lake Villa, Illinois, Hop & Hen Farm is a vibrant example of small-scale agriculture rooted in community values, creativity, and connection. Owned and operated by Deb and Stephen, the farm has grown from humble beginnings into a diverse operation offering something for everyone.

The seed for Hop & Hen was planted years ago when Deb and Stephen were living in Colorado, where their dream of starting a farm first began. After moving a few times and gaining new experiences along the way, they eventually landed in Lake Villa, Illinois — where that dream came to life. What began with goats and handcrafted milk-based lotions and soaps has grown into a thriving community-centered farm.

Today, Hop & Hen features a charming on-site farm store (open Wednesday through Saturday), where all of their products are sold. Shoppers can find scratch-made baked goods, raw goat milk for pets, eggs (from their lively flock of 75 chickens) and much more — all made or gathered right on the farm. The store also carries a selection of goods from other local producers, and Deb and Steven hope to expand this offering in the future as a way to further support the local food community. Deb, a licensed cottage baker, crafts all baked goods herself and is passionate about strengthening the local cottage food network. She’s a vocal advocate for more flexible sales regulations that would make it easier for small producers to collaborate and reach wider audiences.

At Hop & Hen, animals are treated like family — a value Deb and Stephen take great pride in. Their goats are milked just once a day, and only after their kids have had their fill. The kids are allowed to wean naturally, on their own timeline. It’s an approach that works well for their farm and reflects their personal commitment to attentive, hands-on animal care.

In addition to their homemade offerings, Hop & Hen is launching a new partnership with Natural Farm Stand in Richmond, IL to offer an organic seasonal produce pack — a CSA-style program without the subscription. This fresh approach is designed to make farm-to-you produce more accessible and flexible for the local community, and is part of the farm’s ongoing effort to connect more people with high-quality, local food.

Community engagement is at the heart of everything Deb and Stephen do. Hop & Hen is active in educational outreach, hosting interns from a local Montessori school, supporting the Youth Conservation Corps, and organizing field trip opportunities for area students. They’ve also been known to host baby goat snuggle sessions — a favorite for visitors of all ages.

You’ll find Hop & Hen Farm at the Lake Villa Farmers Market once a month, and their products are available year-round at the farm store and online at www.hopandhen.com. For farm updates, goat photos, and local collaborations, follow them on Facebook @hopandhen

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