Last night we camped in Bonnie, IL at the Bernard Family Farm. The current workers are the 6th generation of the family that have been working this land. The farm grows hay and soybean and is becoming a fiber farm too.
For their fiber farming they raise alpacas, three species of sheep and angora rabbits. We got to feed the alpacas, pet a bunny and the sheep, and even visit with a few hours old baby alpaca.
Mica imparted so much information into our heads that we were spinning at her knowledge of each species she raises. To add to their fiber menagerie, the family also has emus, turkeys, chickens, fainting goats, pot-bellied pigs, miniature donkeys, peacocks, and rheas.
They raise the rheas for meat because some family members are allergic to beef, sheep and pig. Rhea meat tastes similar to a red meat and has none of the allergy side-effects.
The spot that is set aside for RVs was amongst the soybean fields and next to a small pond. It was idyllic. As night descended, the frogs came out and started a chorus of croaks to sing us to sleep. I could have stayed here a week! Chris and Jack are looking forward to sleeping with AC again.
Thank you Bernard Family Farm, I will be back!