MADE is a paid partnership with Little Lake County.
Welcome to MADE in Lake County! MADE introduces you to the people and stories behind local Lake County businesses. This month we’ve gotten to know Chris & Katie Aspegren. Today we are going to get an inside look at Aspegren Farms in Mundelein.
What do a golf course, an antique horse wagon, and four acres of pumpkins have in common? Aspegren Farms! Katie and Chris Aspegren come from a long line of farm families in Lake County. Katie’s grandmother’s family homesteaded here in 1846 on land that is now Behm Park, near the corner of Peterson and Alleghany Roads. Her husband’s family owned the farm that eventually became Steeplechase Golf Course. Chris and Katie live on a portion of the property where they still farm soybeans and pumpkins as part of Aspegren Farms.
Katie says, “I’ve lived here so long, I know everybody!”
The Aspegren’s enjoy sharing their love of agriculture with the community. In addition to providing the perfect Halloween jack-o-lantern, Aspegren Farms is a place where preschools, scouts, and children’s groups can learn about farming. Teachers can set up lessons in the field, picnic tables are provided for birthday parties, and tents are available upon request. Katie can also bring goats to the farm with advance notice. Costs for group visits range from $5 – $10 per person. Children get to pick a pumpkin and learn about agriculture from real farmers at this farm but call early for reservations as Aspegren Farms only schedules one group at a time.
Katie hopes learning about farming will help people develop an appreciation for the many variables that affect crops. For example, last year’s rainy weather destroyed almost all the Aspegren’s pumpkins. But this year, they’re back heartier than ever, and Katie can’t wait for people to pick them at the farm.
Aspegren Farms is open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Katie recommends bringing clippers and a pair of gloves since pumpkins can be hard to cut from their stems. A few cutters are available at the farm. In case of rainy weather, please check their Facebook and Instagram pages. Katie updates the farm schedule daily.
Aspegren Farms accepts cash or credit cards. Because pumpkins have a 90–120-day growing span, they’ll be available to pick throughout October. But once they’re gone . . . they’re gone! So, don’t delay!
Aspegren Farms
21675 W Hawley Street, Mundelein, Illinois 60060 | (847) 949-5931
(Turn into Steeplechase Subdivision on LaVista drive. FREE farm parking is in the gravel driveway on the right.)
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Disclosure: Aspegren Farms is our featured Business of the Month. This series is part of a paid promotion partnership with Little Lake County. If you are interested in featuring your locally-owned business in our series, please contact the sales team.
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