Our Co-Op Continues to Grow! Here is a list of our members:

Julie Barr, Columbia Sheep
DeKalb, Illinois

Suzy Beggin, Merino, Dorset, Cheviot Sheep
Stockton, Illinois

Mike & Alda Behm, Corriedale cross sheep, Angora goat
Sheridan, Illinois

Carol Burnidge, Dorset sheep
Hampshire, Illinois

Harold & Bonnie Davis,
Odell, Illinois

Patrick Dunphy, Cheviot Sheep
Amboy, Illinois

Dick & Flo Getzelman, Cheviot Sheep
Hinckley, Illinois

Linda & Thomas Gogol, Alpaca
Lee, Illinois

Connie Gustafson, Merino Sheep
Kirkland, Illinois

Helen Hettinger, Corriedale Sheep
Eurkea, Illinois

Donna Lehrer, Cheviot Sheep
Big Rock, Illinois

Kathy Koning-McClure, Montadale Sheep
Winnebago, Illinois

Judy Maierhofer, Navajo Churro Sheep
Loveless Fiber Farm, Newark, Illinois

Ray & Jill Mohr, Lincoln Sheep
Danvers, Illinois

Bonnie Ogle, Eleanor St. John, Montadale & Polypay Sheep
Sugar Grove, Illinois

Deb Rock, Pygora Goats, Angora Rabbits
Kirkland, Illinois

Sandra Schrader, Cormo Sheep
Waterman, Illinois

Julie & Glenn Smith, Alpaca
Freeport, Illinois

Dee & Steve Stielow, Alpaca
Farmer City, Illinois

Garceau Family, Columbia Sheep
Elburn, Illinois

Susan Stillinger, Merino Sheep
Cozy Hollow Farm - Elgin, Illinois


Randy and Terri Carlson, Icelandic Sheep
Red Brick Road Farm - Dixon, Illinois

John and Charlotte Nadig, Merino Sheep
Dekalb, Illinois

Steve and Tracy Riddle, Border Leicester Sheep
The Shepherd’s Wife - Worden, Illinois

Jane & Nicole Zeien, Shetland Sheep
Belvidere, Illinois

New member bios and photographs to come soon.

Julie Barr, Columbia Sheep Barr Farms - Dekalb, Illinois Julie Barr, owner of Barr Farms in rural DeKalb, Illinois discovered her passion for owning and caring for sheep at an early age. A 4-H project started with two bottle lambs at the age of seven has grown into a lifelong commitment to raising and selling top quality breeding stock, market lambs and beautiful Columbia wool. Read more...

Lane, Carol & Martin Burnidge, Dorset Sheep Enjoy Pioneer Farm - Hampshire, Illinois The Burnidge family’s roots in Kane County date back to the period just after the Black Hawk Indian Wars of the 1830’s when two brothers bought 40 acres of land just 10 miles from the where the current farm is located today! Lane’s father began showing Dorset Sheep at local fairs and the International Expo held at the old Chicago Stockyards in 1946. Son Martin continued the family tradition when he chose Dorset Sheep for his 4-H project. Read more...

Dick & Florence Getzelman, Cheviot Sheep Bo-Peep Cheviots - Hinckley, Illinois Both Dick and Florence Getzelman boast a rich family tradition of breeding sheep on the lush, hilly pastures of Illinois. Florence’s family started breeding Dorset Sheep in 1919, showing their prize breed from Kane County to the Chicago International Livestock show. As a youngster, Dick started raising sheep for a 4-H project. Together they started their flock of Cheviots with four sheep that have now grown to more than one hundred. Read more...

Connie Gustafson, Merino Sheep Gustafson Merino Sheep - Kirkland, Illinois Connie Gustafson’s love for sheep began with a lamb named Harry nearly 40 years ago! From that simple beginning the Gustafson family has raised sheep as well as a number of agricultural crops on their 1500 acre centennial farm. Over the years, many sheep have become such treasured members of the family that they were lovingly buried in a cemetery near the barn. Read more...

Scott, Donna, Natasha & Eric Lehrer, Cheviot Sheep Lamb of God Farm - Big Rock, Illinois Truly a labor of love for the entire family, the Lehrer’s started raising sheep six years ago. When a neighbor gave the family a spinning wheel the journey into the creative world of fiber arts began! Read more...

Judy Maierhofer, Navajo Churro Sheep Loveless Fiber Farm - Newark, Illinois A hand spinner since childhood, Judy Maierhofer bought her fleeces at local sheep shearing days. In the mid-90’s, years of drought in the Southwest decimated the Navajo Churro Sheep causing the genetic pool to become threatened. During one of her fleece buying trips, a local farmer offered anyone with a barn one ram and three ewes to help replenish the breed. Once her herd grew, she was able to send fifteen ewes to New Mexico to help them diversify the gene pool. Read more...

Sandra Schrader, Cormo Sheep Clear View Farm - Waterman, Illinois For Sandra Schrader, owning and caring for livestock is the culmination of a lifelong dream. Owning and operating Clear View Farm is the realization of that dream come true. Read more...

Dee Stielow, Alpaca Salt Creek Alpacas - Farmer City, Illinois Salt Creek Alpacas began with just four alpacas—two bred females and two crias (baby alpaca)—as well as two Great Pyrenees puppies, who serve as the guardians of the herd today! Just like most families, Dee’s alpacas exhibit distinct personality traits. Half sisters, Linen and Black Magic, have very different temperaments. Black Magic is very easy going and accepting of new members while Linen serves as the herd “Queen” and insists on checking out each new alpaca brought into the herd! Read more...

Jane & Nicole Zeien, Shetland Sheep Gone With the Wind Shetlands - Belvidere, Illinois A breeder of Shetland Sheep for the past five years, the Zeiens currently own twelve Shetlands and are delighted to report that this year eight of their ewes are having babies! Since Shetlands come in such a variety of colors, one great delight in lambing is seeing what new colors and patterns are represented in the lambs! Read more...