Lenkaitis Dairy Farm in St. Charles to host family fun and ice cream social on June 29

ST. CHARLES – Enjoy an old-fashioned day at the dairy farm as the Lenkaitis family opens their barn doors to the public from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on June 29.

Guests can see how the Lenkaitis family uses technology to produce fresh milk, take a 30-minute tour of the dairy barn, get up close to the tractors and other farm equipment, take a selfie with a dairy cow and enjoy a scoop of ice cream for a $2 donation. Proceeds from the donations will support the 10,000 Gallon Milk Challenge which provides 10,000 gallons of milk to area food pantries and the Northern Illinois Food Bank.

“We are excited to host our neighbors and the community for an afternoon of fun on the farm. Our family hopes it serves as an opportunity for those attending to learn about the people and dairy cows behind the nutritious milk and dairy foods we all enjoy,” stated Andy Lenkaitis, part owner and operator of the dairy farm, in a press release.

The farm, known as Lenkaitis Holsteins, was purchased by the family in 1983 and began with just five cows. Today, the farm is enjoyed by three generations of the Lenkaitis family and is comprised of 150 cows, including 80 milk cows, according to the press release.

The newest barn on the farmstead was built in 2018 and houses two robotic milking units.

“On a traditional dairy farm, all of the cows are milked twice or three times a day by people. With robotic milkers, the cows decide when they want to milk,” explained Lenkaitis.

The Lenkaitis family grows corn, alfalfa, oats and small grains primarily used to feed the animals, and embraces technology to make their business sustainable for future generations.

“There are only three dairy farms left in Kane County, us included. We made an investment to renovate our farm to take the best care of our cows and people. By making a safe, comfortable environment for both, we look forward to providing top-quality milk for consumers for years to come,” stated Lenkaitis.

This event is being coordinated by the Illinois Livestock Development Group, Illinois Milk Producers Association and the Kane County Farm Bureau.

To learn more about the Lenkaitis Holsteins and the event, visit their website at lenkaitisholsteins.com or follow them on social media @lenkaitisholsteins. The farm is located at 6N509 Corron Road, St. Charles.