About Us
Lane, Carol, and Martin Burnidge 847-683-2863
17N400 Big Timber Rd. enjoypioneerfarm@yahoo.com
Hampshire, IL 60140
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About us
This farm was homesteaded and in the VanVleet family since the Indians. It was all woods and wetland. Early settlers thought only land cleared of trees could grow crops. John Deere had not yet invented the prairie plow. All buildings on the farm were built by the family. Many other barns in the area were built by the VanVleet's over several generations. The barn was build in 1901. We purchased the farm in 1978.
A farm stand at our farm on Big Timber Road was just a natural for us. Both of us grew up with a farm background.
Carol's great grandfather, Jelte Westerhoff, got off the boat from Holland in the 1870's in his wooden shoes, which we still have, and settled in Riverside, IL. There he farmed and his part-time job was lighting the street lamps. From Riverside the family moved to Broadview where hot beds and cold frames, orchards, strawberries, sweet corn and pumpkins were grown. In the 1930's lilacs sold for 10 cents a bunch. Life on the farm was fun. Carol's family was the last farm in Broadview, IL. In 1960, they drove their tractor to Lisle, IL where they still garden and live on a simple gravel road. The picture at the bottom shows Carol's grandfather Fred Westerhoff and her dad, Ray Brinkmeyer.
Lane's family settled here in Kane County just after the Black Hawk Indian War of the 1830's. Two brothers each bought 40 acres in Plato Township, which is less than 10 miles from where we are today. They paid $3.50 per acre. They raised pigs, beef, dairy cattle, did butchering and a lot of hard work. It was the best place for a boy to grow up.
Martin, our youngest, is in 4H and shows his Dorset sheep at our County Fair like his grandfather did in 1946. Saturday 5 p.m. during the fair is his absolute favorite where anyone can dress up themselves and a sheep. Martin as Elvis Presley, and his sheep playing the hound dog won 1st place.
We now have 12 grandkids, and it is a big day when 4 generations gather for Harvest.
Come enjoy the Country!
