Windy Acres Farm

What Windy Acres Farm does

Windy Acres Farm is a privately held, family-owned agritourism and direct-to-consumer farm operation headquartered at 37W446 Fabyan Pkwy, Geneva, Illinois, founded in 1985 by Wayne Srail and currently operated by Wayne together with his four adult children (Amanda Srail Thomas, Kristin Srail, Jamie Srail, and Scott Srail). The farm runs on physical agricultural infrastructure — a 6,000-tree apple orchard, four seasonal greenhouses, an on-site bakery, and a farm stand open daily 9am–6pm from April through mid-November — and sells fresh produce, bakery items (apple cider donuts, fruit pies, French silk pie, caramel apples), raw honey, jams (20+ varieties), salsas (13+ varieties), and pickled vegetables.

The business monetizes through a diversified set of channels: on-site farm stand retail, attendance at multiple regional farmers markets including the Wheaton French Market, a weekend drive-thru market, online ordering with curbside pickup, a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) subscription program operating late May through November with farm pickup or delivery, four major seasonal festivals (Strawberry, Peach, Blueberry & Corn Boil, and Fall Fest) with per-person admission pricing of $17.99–$26.99, structured school and scout field trip packages, birthday party hosting with party tent rentals, and spring/fall fundraising programs for local schools and community organizations. Pricing is uniformly transactional and unit-based, with gift cards issued in $15–$100 denominations.

The farm's customer base is fragmented across families with children (the primary segment), schools and educational groups, community organizations, local produce consumers, and festival attendees within the Northern Illinois/Chicagoland radius. The technology stack is intentionally minimal — a WordPress e-commerce site for shippable goods and a curbside pickup form — with no disclosed APIs, SDKs, AI/ML capabilities, or external investor or parent company ownership. The sole external capital signal is a $154,961 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture dated 2024-06-26.

Name

Windy Acres Farm

Legal name

Windy Acres Farm

Website

https://windyacresfarmstand.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Windy Acres Farm is a family-owned agritourism and farm stand operation in Geneva, Illinois, founded in 1985, serving Northern Illinois and Chicagoland families with seasonal produce, an on-site bakery, a CSA program, multiple farmers markets, and four annual festivals including Strawberry, Peach, Blueberry, and Fall Fest.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agritourism & Farm Stand

NAICS

Fruit and Tree Nut Farming (1113), Vegetable and Melon Farming (1112), Other Food Crops Grown Under Cover (111419), Nursery, Garden Center, and Farm Supply Retailers (444240)

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100), Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Farmers’ Markets & Farm Stands (Fresh Food) (CRAHAHAE)

Keywords

• Fresh produce retail
• Agritourism festivals
• Csa subscriptions
• Farm stand bakery
• U-pick orchard

Headquarters

HQ city

Geneva

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Farm Stand Retail Sales: Direct retail sales of fresh produce, flowers, baked goods, jams, honey, pickled vegetables, and other farm products through the on-site farm stand open daily 9am-6pm.
2. Festival and Attractions Admission: Admission fees for seasonal festivals including Strawberry Festival, Peach Festival, Blueberry Festival & Corn Boil, and Fall Fest. Attractions area pricing for children, seniors, and adults with weekday and weekend rates.
3. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA): Subscription-based CSA program offering weekly produce boxes from late May through November. Customers can pick up at farm or opt for delivery.
4. Fundraising Programs: Fundraising partnerships with local schools and organizations for spring and fall seasons. Organizations sell farm products including mums, pumpkins, pies, and arrangements to raise funds.
5. Farmers Markets: Sales at multiple local farmers markets and the Wheaton French Market, bringing fresh produce and farm goods directly to consumers in surrounding communities.
6. Drive-Thru Farmers Market: Weekend drive-thru market service allowing customers to purchase products without leaving their vehicles, operating Saturdays and Sundays 10am-5pm.
7. Curbside Pickup: Online ordering system with 24-hour processing for curbside pickup of products including honey, jams, pickled vegetables, and other farm goods.
8. Field Trips and Group Events: Educational field trips and group outings for schools, scout troops, and organizations with various packages including Gardener for the Day, Farmer for the Day, Apple Picking, and Fall Festival packages.
9. Birthday Parties and Event Rentals: Birthday party hosting with customizable packages and party tent rentals for semi-private event spaces.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Windy Acres Farm is a family farm that grows and sells seasonal fruits and vegetables (strawberries, peaches, apples, blueberries, sweet corn, tomatoes, peppers), operates an on-site bakery producing pies, apple cider donuts, and caramel apples, makes artisan jams, salsas, pickled vegetables, and raw honey, and cultivates flowers and plants in its greenhouses. Alongside its farm-grown product portfolio, the farm runs an agritourism business featuring four seasonal festivals (Strawberry, Peach, Blueberry & Corn Boil, Fall Fest), a U-pick apple orchard, a CSA subscription program, school field trips, birthday parties, and spring/fall fundraising programs for local organizations.

Product overview

Windy Acres Farm is a family-owned agritourism and farm stand operation offering a diversified portfolio of products and services centered around seasonal produce, baked goods, and family entertainment. The core product portfolio includes fresh produce (strawberries, peaches, apples, blueberries, sweet corn, and seasonal vegetables), an on-site bakery (apple cider donuts, fruit pies, holiday pies, tarts, caramel apples), artisan preserves (20+ jam varieties and 13+ salsa varieties), raw honey from the farm's bee hives, and pickled vegetables. The agritourism offerings center around four major seasonal festivals: the Strawberry Festival (June), Peach Festival (July), Blueberry Festival & Corn Boil (August), and Fall Festival (September-November), each featuring attractions, food vendors, and entertainment. Additional services include a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) subscription program, U-Pick apple orchard, school field trips and group events, birthday party hosting, party tent rentals, spring and fall fundraising programs for local organizations, and an online shop with curbside pickup and drive-thru options. The farm has been serving the Geneva, Illinois community for over 40 years since its founding in 1985.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fresh Produce Seasonal fruits and vegetables grown on the farm including strawberries, peaches, apples, blueberries, sweet corn, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and melons, sold through the farm stand, farmers markets, and CSA program.
• Bakery Freshly baked goods including apple cider donuts, fruit pies (apple, blueberry, cherry, peach, strawberry rhubarb), gourmet holiday pies, French silk pie, fruit tarts, and caramel apples produced on site daily.
• Jams and Salsas Artisan preserves including over 20 varieties of jams (fruit and sugar-free options) and 13 varieties of salsas (garden, corn, black bean, peach, raspberry, mango, bacon, salsa verde).
• Raw Honey Raw, pure honey produced directly from the farm's bee hives, available in 1lb, 2lb, and 5lb sizes, plus honey comb.
• Pickled Vegetables Handcrafted pickled items including dilled pickle halves, garlic pickle chips, garlic pickle spears, pickled asparagus, dilled green beans, dilled brussel sprouts, pickled sweet tiny beets, sweet Italian mushrooms, zesty mushrooms, bread and butter pickles, and spiced peaches.
• Greenhouse and Flower Products Seasonal flowers, hanging baskets, potted arrangements, vegetable plants, herb plants, and custom planting services available through the four on-site greenhouses from late April through June.
• Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Program Produce subscription boxes available for farm pickup or door-side delivery from late May through November, offering fresh local produce on a weekly basis.
• U-Pick Apple Orchard Self-harvest apple picking experience in the 6,000-tree orchard, available mid-August through mid-September.
• Strawberry Festival Annual strawberry celebration with strawberry treats, farm attractions, live music, and family activities held in early June.
• Peach Festival Annual peach celebration featuring peach cobbler, peach slushies, fresh peaches, peach desserts, attractions, and live entertainment held in mid-July.
• Blueberry Festival & Corn Boil Annual blueberry celebration with fresh blueberries, corn, and farm attractions held in August.
• Fall Festival Annual fall celebration featuring attractions (jumping pillow, corn maze, petting zoo, mini golf, train rides), food vendors, beer garden, and live entertainment from September 12 to November 1.
• Field Trips and Group Events School field trips and group outings for schools, scout troops, and organizations with packages including Gardener for the Day, Farmer for the Day, Apple Picking, and Fall Festival packages, each with educational components.
• Birthday Parties Customizable birthday party packages hosted at the farm with access to attractions and party tent rentals, suitable for children and family celebrations.
• Party Tent Rentals Semi-private tented party spaces with designated picnic tables, available in 90-minute time slots with additional time available on request.
• Spring Fundraising Fundraising opportunities for local organizations featuring spring flower arrangements, hanging baskets, pansy bowls, and decorative pots, supplied to organizations for resale.
• Fall Fundraising Fall fundraising options including fall mums, arrangements, fresh baked pies, apple cider donuts, caramel apples, pumpkins, and honey supplied to organizations for resale.
• Gift Cards Gift cards available in $15, $25, $50, and $100 denominations, valid for in-person purchases at the farm store.
• Online Shop E-commerce platform for purchasing shipping-eligible products including jams, salsas, honey, pickled vegetables, and preserves with home delivery.

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Stade's Farm & Market: Family-owned farm in McHenry, IL operating a farm stand, U-pick fruits and vegetables, seasonal festivals (Strawberry Fest, Fall Festival), bakery, and farmers markets. Most directly comparable to Windy Acres in scale, geography, and agritourism + retail mix.
• Siegel's Cottonwood Farm: Lockport, IL agritourism farm running a fall pumpkin festival, corn maze, farm stand, bakery, and U-pick operations. Highly comparable operating model with overlapping family entertainment, bakery, and produce offerings in the Chicagoland market.
• Didier Farms: Lincolnshire, IL family farm offering farm stand produce, greenhouse flowers, seasonal pumpkin fest, and baked goods. Directly comparable farm stand + greenhouse + agritourism model in suburban Chicago.
• Bengtson's Pumpkin Farm: Homer Glen, IL family-owned farm featuring a fall festival with pig races, petting zoo, hayrides, and a pumpkin farm. Comparable agritourism/entertainment farm operating in the Chicagoland region.
• Goebbert's Pumpkin Patch & Farm: Hampshire, IL family-run pumpkin patch and fall festival with farm animals, attractions, and farm market. Directly comparable agritourism festival model targeting families in suburban Chicago.
• Richardson Adventure Farm: Spring Grove, IL farm operating a large corn maze, U-pick pumpkins, farm store, and seasonal festivals. Comparable agritourism operation with overlapping family entertainment and farm retail offerings.
• Jonamac Orchard: Malta, IL family orchard with U-pick apples, corn maze, farm store, bakery, and hard cider. Closely mirrors Windy Acres' 6,000-tree orchard + bakery + farm stand + agritourism model.
• Royal Oaks Farm: Harvard, IL farm with apple orchard U-pick, bakery, farm market, and seasonal events. Comparable orchard-based farm stand and agritourism operation in the Northern Illinois region.
• Kroll's Fall Harvest Farm: Waukegan, IL family farm hosting fall festivals, birthday parties, pumpkin picking, and field trips. Comparable mix of agritourism, parties, and school group events.
• Honey Hill Orchard: Waterman, IL family orchard with U-pick apples, bakery (apple cider donuts, pies), farm store, and seasonal activities. Closely overlaps Windy Acres' orchard, bakery, and farm stand model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/windyacresfarm
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@windyacresfarmstand
• Facebookfacebook.com/windyacresfarmstand
• Instagraminstagram.com/windyacresfarmstand
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/windy-acres-farm

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Windy Acres Farm