Growing for Kane: Strom Family Farm Continues Cultivating Conservation

Kane County Connects is spotlighting local farms that received grants through Kane County's 2024 Food and Farm Resiliency Program. Funded by the federal American Rescue Plan, the program supports farmers as they continue to recover from pandemic-related challenges and work to strengthen the region's food system.

Meet the Farmer

For Tyler Strom, farming has always been a calling, rooted in his family's heritage, land stewardship, and connection to the Kane County community. When asked about his trajectory in agriculture, Tyler shared that some of his fondest memories were spent in the old corn crib on his family's property.

“Alongside my two older siblings, we spent long summer days selling sweet corn to our friends and neighbors. Those moments shaped me," Tyler recalled. “It taught me the value of growing food and sharing it with others."

Those connections still guide Tyler's work today. In addition to owning and operating Strom Family Farm in Campton Hills, he is a nonprofit executive, sustainability consultant, sustainable food systems adjunct professor at Northwestern University, and advisor across Illinois' agri-food landscape.

While Strom Family Farm began as a modest operation for friends and family, it has evolved into a diversified farm providing produce and honey to the wider Kane County public. At the farm store, customers can find tomatoes, onions, peppers, eggplant, squash, potatoes, beets, scallions, Brussels sprouts, kale, spinach, garlic, pumpkins, beans, radishes, cucumbers, carrots, watermelons, cantaloupes, herbs, and of course, sweet corn.

“Farming grounds me," said Tyler. “It's the bridge between my academic, nonprofit, and consulting work and the real-world challenges growers face every day."

The Food and Farm Resiliency Grant

Like many small farms, Strom Family Farm continues to adapt to rising costs and unpredictable conditions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2024 Kane County Food & Farm Resiliency Grant provided timely assistance, helping the farm strengthen its operational backbone.    

“The grant was essential," Tyler shared. “It allowed us to invest in upgrades that directly improve our ability to grow, harvest, and deliver fresh local food."

Strom Family Farm used the funding to enhance marketing efforts to reach more Kane County families, purchase essential growing and production supplies, and invest in equipment to increase efficiency and support soil-friendly cultivation practices.

“These investments help us maintain a sustainable, resilient operation," Tyler said. “They give us the tools we need to keep producing high-quality food."

A Legacy of Conservation

In 2001, Strom Family Farm entered the County's Farmland Preservation Program to ensure that the land remains permanently protected for agricultural use. Since then, the family has restored the farm's natural ecosystems, reviving a remnant oak savannah, supporting prairie restoration, and integrating habitat that benefits a wide variety of pollinators and wildlife.

“Preserving farmland is about more than protecting acres," Tyler emphasized. “It's about protecting biodiversity, culture, and the future of local food in Kane County."

Why Kane County

Strom Family Farm offers a peaceful glimpse into Illinois' agricultural heritage, with restored prairie, oak savannah, and pasture blending with fields of fresh produce. For visitors and customers, it's a place where ecological stewardship, family heritage, and local food come together.

“I want people to know that small farms like ours aren't just growing food," Tyler said. “We're preserving open space, restoring habitat, building community, and investing in a resilient future for Kane County. My work in sustainability and food systems informs everything we do here, and this farm is my way of living those values."

Looking Ahead to 2026

As the farm plans for the next season, a few core needs are essential: modern infrastructure, reliable equipment, support to restore the farm's 1909 historic barn, and continued access to local markets that value sustainable, family-grown food.

“To continue farming in 2026, we need support for the fundamentals: tools, infrastructure, and a marketplace that values small, diversified farms," Tyler said. “And we need a strong local food community. That network is what keeps farms like ours thriving."

Tyler also plans to grow educational partnerships and introduce more special events on the farm, offering field tours, workshops, and community-focused gatherings that help people engage directly with sustainable agriculture, conservation, and local food.

Where to Find Strom Family Farm Products, 2025–2026

• Strom Family Farm On-Farm Store
  Location and hours to come for the 2026 season
• Local Markets & Events
  Announced seasonally via the farm's social media
• For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/StromFamilyFarm
  
  The Growing for Kane series was created by Sustainable Agriculture Consultant Ellen Kamps.