Joy of Illinois Farm

Les and Penny, co-owners of Joy of Illinois Farm, began their farming journey in the 80s and early 90s as a single-income family with many children. They moved to a small, affordable place near Champaign to raise their family and joined 4-H, where their children learned to raise various animals and grow produce. Over the years, they gained valuable experience and transitioned from raising food for themselves to selling surplus produce and animal products. Their farm life significantly improved their health, reducing allergies and migraines. Now, with their children grown and scattered across the country, they continue to farm with passion and pleasure.

The goats are on pasture during spring, summer, and fall, and are fed hay from the farm in winter, along with some grain at milking time. Milk is stored in glass quart canning jars. They emphasize the importance of consuming fresh, raw milk, eggs, and produce, which they believe contributes to better health. They also utilize the whole chicken for broth and boil bones from red meat for soup to capture the gelatin missing in muscle meats.

Joy of Illinois Farm sells directly to consumers and offers a variety of products including raw goat milk, free-range eggs, live Katahdin sheep, Saanen dairy goats, small black American Guinea Hogs, mixed-breed chickens, brown rabbits, African geese, and Muscovy ducks. Most sales are through CSA-style shares, with payment made in late winter/spring for the whole year. They have an on-farm store and host various classes and events, such as Barn Babies Day, Farm Day Camp, and an Udderly Great Dairy Goat Products class. Visitors are welcome to pick up farm products during open hours, and the farm offers a small parking lot for convenience.