Growing for Kane: Wiltse’s Farm Celebrates 60 Years of Family Farming
Meet the Farmers
In 1965, Marie and Jerome Wiltse planted the seeds of what would become a Kane County mainstay. Sixty years later, Wiltse’s Farm in Maple Park remains a family-run operation, now in its fifth and sixth generations, led by siblings Patty, Kate, and Joe.
“This isn’t a hobby. This is a way of life,” Patty explained. “From asparagus in the spring to heirloom pumpkins in the fall, we grow what we sell.”
Beyond running the farm, the family continues to honor the legacy of their late mother, Marie Wiltse, who, alongside her husband, Jerome “Red” Wiltse, grew the business from a small roadside garden into a thriving market. After Jerome’s passing in 1986, during what the family remembers as “a tough decade for farmers,” Marie’s determination never faltered.
One story still told on the farm recalls a real estate agent suggesting she sell, claiming “a woman couldn’t take care of all this.” Her swift and unfiltered response made it clear the farm would stay in the family’s hands.
“She showed us not to give up when things get hard,” the Patty shared, crediting her with instilling the passion and work ethic that continue to drive Wiltse’s Farm 60 years later.
From Field to Barn 
Over the years, the Wiltses have grown a wide variety of crops starting the season with tender asparagus, followed by sweet corn, melons, bell peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, zucchini, basil, and fresh-cut flowers. The season wraps with hearty vegetables like cabbage and beets, and a colorful display of pumpkins.
Wiltse’s also offers honey from their own hives and a selection of jarred goods such as salsa, pickles, jams, and jellies from fellow Illinois producers.
“We pick the produce, we clean it, and it comes right here to the barn,” Kate said. “Our customers can see the process and meet the people who grew their food.”
Starting in July, Wiltse’s is especially known for its sweet corn, including the famous Wiltse’s Trifecta, a juicy variety ideal for steaming, boiling, grilling, freezing, or canning—all the way until the first frost in northern Illinois.
Beyond the Maple Park farm stand, Wiltse’s produce is also served in Kane County restaurants like The Maple Park Pub, Tanna Tap in Geneva, Old Town Tap in Elburn, and Bootlegger’s in Maple Park.
“Working with the public is the best opportunity for education,” Patty said. “Many customers tell us their grandparents farmed, but they never had the chance to see it firsthand. At our farm stand and through our restaurant partners, people can experience locally grown food in real life.”
Resilience Through Community Support
Like many local farms, Wiltse’s faced serious challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, including labor shortages and market disruptions.
“Those years were tough,” Kate recalled. “But we had to keep going. This is our livelihood, and we believe in what we do.”
With support from the Kane County Food & Farm Resiliency Grant, the Wiltse family invested in advertising and marketing to help the community rediscover them, not just as a market, but as a trusted source for education on local agriculture. Their Facebook page has become a hub for “edu-tainment” on topics like nutrition, sustainability, and seasonal food preservation.
In USDA Zone 5b, eating locally year-round means preserving seasonal produce. Wiltse’s offers guidance through their website, farm stand materials, and social media posts on how to blanch, freeze, or can vegetables.
“Why buy that $6 pepper in the winter that was picked prematurely and shipped from Arizona?” Kate asked. “With a little prep, you can blanch your peppers, corn, green beans, tomatoes, and onions for winter meals. It’s never too early to start.”
Why Kane County?
The Wiltse family is committed to keeping their farm sustainable for future generations.
“Our vision is to survive and keep going,” Kate said. “Costs haven’t gone down, but people are willing to travel one or two hours for our product. We want to keep giving them a reason to make that trip.”
For the Wiltses, farming is about more than crops, it’s about community.
“People still come out to hear our story,” Kate said. “They want to know their farmer. They want to buy from someone they trust.”
By staying local and keeping the business family-run, Wiltse’s continues to offer Kane County residents fresh, high-quality produce while preserving a farming tradition that began six decades ago.
Where to Find Wiltse’s Farm in 2025
Wiltse’s Farm
50W737 Illinois Route 38, Maple Park, IL 60151
Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday–Sunday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Rain or shine
Facebook: facebook.com/wiltsefarm
Website: wiltsefarm.com
Special Announcement: 60th Anniversary Celebration
Join the Wiltse family this weekend—August 9–10, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.—as they celebrate 60 years of farming in Kane County. Enjoy free roasted corn, a prize drawing and a vibrant U-pick flower patch at their farm stand in Maple Park. Create a family tradition with a countryside drive to:
50W379 IL-38, Maple Park, IL 60151
This “Growing for Kane” story was produced by Sustainable Agriculture Consultant Ellen Kamps.
