Chris and Hannah McKee, along with their five children, raise a variety of crops and livestock on their farm near Woodstock in McHenry County. The McKees recently began marketing individual cuts of their pork and poultry directly to consumers at the nearby Bull Valley Farm Country Store. The store opened in late 2022 to meet the growing demand from Chicagoland consumers for locally raised meats, dairy products and other foods.
Chris and Hannah McKee chatted with Partners about their farm and the rewards of visiting with customers who learn how the McKees raise their pork, poultry, and other livestock and crops.
See more: Q&A with Joseph Ring, a Fourth-Generation Cattle Farmer with a Musical Side Hustle
Can you tell us about your farm?
We operate a diversified family farm, which goes back more than a century in McHenry County. Hannah’s ancestors built our farmhouse in 1917 when they settled in the county. Chris traces his roots here way back to 1872. We grow corn, soybeans and wheat, along with hay that we bale and sell to local horse owners and stables. For livestock, we raise beef cattle, pigs, and chickens for eggs and meat.
We have five children, three girls and two boys, ranging in age from 3 to 17. The older kids love to help on the farm. The girls really enjoy working with the animals, while the boys tend to like working with the equipment we use to raise crops.
Why did you decide to market your products directly to consumers through the Bull Valley Farm Country Store?
Hannah’s aunt, Michele Aavang, first planned a local food store in 2020, and the official opening happened in December 2022. We worked with her from the beginning as she developed the concept for the Bull Valley store and the sourcing of locally raised foods. We were interested in selling individual cuts to expand our Rush-Mar Farms brand and earn higher margins. For several years, selling meats wholesale for families to fill their freezers was our focus, and this seemed like a great next step. At the Bull Valley Farm Country Store, we sell a full line of pork and chicken cuts, plus a variety of specialty products, such as nine different flavors of brats and marinated pork chops.
Do customers ask a lot of questions about how you raise your pork and poultry?
Yes, consumers are very curious about all their food, especially the meat they buy. People want to hear the story of how we care for our livestock and the land. We also sell at farmers markets in Woodstock and Rockford, where we usually answer many questions, and we really like talking about how we farm.
The key message we want to convey to consumers is that our passion is feeding our customers and their families with nutritious and wholesome products. We have a legacy of caring for our families, our livestock and our land, and that legacy of care is part of every product we sell.
See more: Q&A With Lenkaitis Holsteins Dairy Farm About Keeping Their Cows Cozy
What else will customers find at Bull Valley Farm Country Store?
The store sells beef from Michele’s farm, fresh milk provided by Michele’s son, Grant, as well as cheeses, baked goods and a wide variety of local foods. You can see the list of products on the website, bvfamilyfarm.com/products. The Chicagoland community around us has been very supportive of the store, and the store draws customers from a wide area of northern Illinois and some from southern Wisconsin.
See more: Q&A with Dollinger Family Farm Where Visitors Can Experience a Taste of Farm Life
