Kepner's East Chelsea Farm

09/19/2024

Great to have students on the farm this morning!

04/05/2023

Introducing our newest farmhand: Baxter! He joined the farm last summer with some big paw prints to fill ❤️🐾 The pigs (and Dad) are his best friends and he’s still learning how to keep them all in line… Chore time is his favorite time of day right alongside morning snuggles with Dad. He’s growing up into quite a gentleman, and we know he has the best big dog brother looking down on him giving him pointers.

02/08/2022

Here’s to leaping for leaves, cuddling on the couch, & guarding the gates; here’s to every lil quirk making up that big personality. It’s nearly impossible to put into words the ache we feel in our hearts tonight. Toby Kepner, our furry family, we miss you so much already ♥️ thanks for being the best farm dog there’s ever been. There’s never a shortage of pigs to chase, steers to bark at, trips to town in the truck, or dead things to roll in where you’re at, Toby. And yes, you will still be more than welcome in the living room of heaven, once you've cleaned off your paws ♥️

12/08/2021

Here’s one of my (youngest daughter, Olivia, writing this from her grad school apartment) favorite views on the farm! That little oblong shed in front is where we now farrow & raise the majority of our piglets. The sows have box pens to move around and get let outside twice per day to eat, socialize with the other moms, and stretch their legs. In those pens, the piglets have access to a corner creep where they can nap under a warm heat lamp. The barn in the background is probably one of my favorite buildings on the farm. The hay mow is filled nearly to the brim with hay crops through the years, certain corners never quite getting used up before the next summer’s hay was dried and ready to be stored. The other half of the mow is filled with straw bedding from the rye crop this past summer. That gets used more quickly on our farm since we use those small square bales as our primary bedding in our farrowing barns. I was able to help unload and stack just a few loads of that with my dad this summer! The bottom part of the barn, converted from stanchions where cows used to be milked many years ago, now houses many of our market hogs. They have ample space inside to cozy up and stay warm, and plenty of outdoor space to run and socialize. On the left of the photo, you can see a few butcher hogs outside in our other market hog yard. They’re enjoying feed from their self-feeders.

This photo was taking a number of years ago on my iPhone and now hangs as a canvas in our farmhouse kitchen.

10/15/2021

We love the opportunity to teach students about pigs!

09/30/2021

FOR SALE: RYE SEED

Bin-run, home-grown rye seed for sale by the bushel.

Please call George at 815-291-8383 for inquiries.

Thanks for sharing!



Below, pictured: a green wide open landscape of a field with a tractor working the land in the distance, the view slightly occluded by the cloud of dust kicked up by the equipment. The blue sky above is cloudless and a bright afternoon summer sun shines down.

Located in JoDaviess County, our family farm has been raising quality pork since 1872. We raise our pork today much like they did back when our family farm was established. We follow antibiotic free raising practices and provide our pigs with room to roam

09/07/2021

Our family is looking for part-time chore help during the 2021 harvest season. We are looking for students/individuals interested in doing evening hog chores at our home farm outside of Lena, IL. We are needing help Sunday through Thursday for about 2-3 hours/night. Must be willing to run a scoop shovel, carry a few buckets of feed, and have the patience + attention to detail to complete visual health checks of animals. This would be a great opportunity for any students interested in learning about farrow-to-finish hog operations and niche market livestock production.
Must be able to lift & carry at least 50 lbs. Must have reliable transportation and a valid driver's license. Prior livestock experience preferred but not required.
Employment may be able to include field work or additional hours if individual is interested.