One thing we love about living in McHenry County is that there are no shortage of farms! As such, it’s always a treat to visit farms. I had heard wonderful things about Hephzibah Farms in Hebron and couldn’t wait to take the kids for a private tour. So finally last year we paid them a visit. Let me tell you – if you are anything like my kids after hanging out at Hephzibah Farms your kids will want their very own farm!

Getting Started at Hephzibah Farms

We parked in the lot and found many of the animals already roaming around the grounds: turkeys, ducks, chickens, and even a friendly dog. My kids had never seen turkey up close! Our family met our tour guide for the day Bekah and Anita, the owner. After a few minutes of chatting, we were quite comfortable as they were very personable and friendly. Bekah gave us the option to wear a mask or if we wanted her to wear one. We thought that was very considerate of her.

Tip: There is a nice clean bathroom in the farm store.

Say hey to Hey Hey and friends

After being greeted by their friendly dog and turkeys, we started our private tour by saying hello to their chickens. Bekah mentioned that they had 200 little chickies and we could hold a few of these babies. Although we’ve held chicks before, this never gets old!

Gosh, we never knew there were SO many different types of chicken. Our favorite was meeting Hey Hey, a bantam rooster. Fun fact: This is the same rooster modeled after Hey Hey from Moana. Not only did we see chicken, but also roosters and ducks.  At this point, my son was convinced a pet chicken was in his near future. Meanwhile, my daughter bonded with one of the chickens and Bekah said she could name her and her sister. (Say hello to Luna and Laura for us!)  I thought that was a really thoughtful gesture and a moment my daughter will never forget.

All the cuddles

I have to say our favorite part of the tour was probably visiting all the animals in the barn. The geese were huddled up in the corner nesting an egg. Peacocks were up in the rafters. The moments here were just so precious. We met sheep, horses, mini donkeys, mini horses, alpacas and cows. We even had a chance to feed baby goats.

One thing we noticed during our tour was how well the animals were taken care of. Even with so many animals, Bekah still knew the names of every single one! It’s obvious how much the animals are loved.

Stop by the Farm Store

To complete our tour we stopped by the farm store. The kids were given their choice of small animal squishie as well as a cards with all the animals that we met. We couldn’t resist picking up a carton of farm fresh eggs as well as maple syrup tapped from their own sugar maple trees. They also sell items like jelly, sweets, meat, and more! At the end of the tour, the kids were given trading cards of some of the animals they met as well as a little squishy toy.

Final thoughts about Hephzibah Farms

Going on a private tour at Hephzibah Farms was such a fun treat. We left with all the feel good vibes.The Millers do a great job running their farm, and it’s obvious how much they love their animals! I highly, highly recommend a visit here. You won’t regret it!

Tips to enjoy Hephzibah Farms

• It’s a true working farm. Make sure to wear boots or shoes that may get a little dirty!
• Getting hungry? Check out a few Hebron spots like Hazel’s with their humongous pancakes and cinnamon rolls or Crandall’s broasted chicken. Looking for a treat? You can’t go wrong with ice cream at The Dari.
• Schedule a reservation online.
• Leave a well-deserved tip.

Nitty Gritty

Website: http://www.hephzibahfarms.com/
Address: 13202 Hebron Rd, Hebron IL
Cost: $5/person. Reserve by messaging them on Facebook. Tell them Cheryl sent you!

While you’re here

• Looking for a quick hike? Winding Creek Conservation Area is minutes away and provides a nice quiet hike through the forest and open prairie.
• Open seasonally, make sure to stop by and get ice cream at The Dari.
• Try some of the best broasted chicken around at Crandall’s.
• During the summer and fall, be amazed as you walk through a sunflower field at Von Bergen’s.