Growing for Kane: Rustic Road Farm Paves the Way

Marc and Luis Bernard didn’t take the traditional path to farming. In 2011, Marc was an executive chef with Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants, and Luis was working toward his master’s degree in special education. Their shared dream of one day owning a farm felt far away until a property with a barn in Elburn became available.    

They began their operation on five acres with perennial fruit crops like raspberries and apple trees. Determined to teach themselves how to cultivate crops and raise livestock, the Bernards’ operation quickly attracted the Kane County community. Today, Rustic Road Farm spans more than 30 acres and has evolved into a regional staple, raising F1 wagyu cattle, red wattle pigs, chickens, and bees, as well as Certified Naturally Grown produce. The diversity of products and offerings continues to be a major draw for families across Kane County.

To mitigate the economic challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kane County awarded 19 food-growing farms with grants to support the vitality of their operations for years to come. Rustic Road Farm used the funds to update infrastructure and purchase used equipment from Angelic Organics, an organic farm in Caledonia that closed last year.

“We purchased a 40-foot carrier cooler that will make a huge difference for our cold storage,” explained Marc. “It has a capacity of 32 pallets! We also purchased several pieces for mechanical weeding, a hay wagon for transporting seedlings and produce from the field, and a water tank for watering when the irrigation will not reach.”

Marc added that pairing the Kane County grant with a Food Shed Capital loan will help them further invest in growing food for the community.     

“The grant made a big difference for us as we have so much infrastructure work to update on the new farm,” Marc shared. “It will be years before we complete all the upgrades but the grant gave us a head start on the big projects so we can start earning revenue. We also got a nice loan from Food Shed Capital. I encourage you and other farmers to look them up. They provide support for historically underserved communities and clean growers raising real food.”

With Marc’s background as a professional chef, the Rustic Road fan club has long appreciated farm-crafted, value-added products. For more than a decade, Rustic Road has opened its farm shop on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., where visitors are often greeted by baby goats, pigs, and chickens.

This season includes new and expanded offerings. On Memorial Day, the farm celebrated its first wood-fired pizza night and sold out in less than 24 hours. Another growing enterprise is The Soup Company, a separate venture that uses Rustic Road’s products to create ready-to-eat meals such as roasted sweet potato and beet salad, shepherd’s pie, and chicken and wild rice soup. Meeting customers’ demand for convenience is just one part of their vision. Marc and Luis are also in the process of designing and building a cheese house certified by the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

While Marc and Luis’ professional development began through self-teaching, Rustic Road now strategically collaborates with scientists and conservation experts from the Kane–DuPage Soil and Water Conservation District (KDSWCD) and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to strengthen stewardship of the land.

“We are working with NRCS on grazing management, water management, and composting,” Marc said. “Kane–DuPage Soil and Water is also helping us with pollinator strips, and to maintain a healthy border between conventionally grown field crops nearby.”

Rustic Road Farm is just minutes west of Geneva but feels like a world away. With goats, sheep, pigs, and chickens roaming the grounds, visitors find a welcome pause from the rush of suburban life. Marc and Luis have made the farm a place of wonder, especially for kids, and a trusted source for customers who care about how their food is grown.

“We are proud to be working toward permanent conservation of farmland in this region,” Marc emphasized. “Our goal is to grow food for Kane County for generations to come.”

For those looking to deepen their connection with Rustic Road, the farm offers Thanksgiving turkeys and is already taking 2026 registrations for its Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) produce box.

The Farmstand at Rustic Road Farm 1N292 Brundige Road, Elburn, IL Open Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Geneva French Market Downtown Geneva, Train Station Parking Lot April through November 2025 | Sundays, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

For more information, visit www.rusticroadfarm.com.

This Growing for Kane series was created by Sustainable Agriculture Consultant Ellen Kamps.