Growing for Kane: Strom Family Farm Continues Cultivating Conservation – Kane County Connects

Report on Strom Family Farm: A Case Study in Sustainable Agriculture and Community Resilience

Introduction

This report examines the operations of Strom Family Farm in Campton Hills, a recipient of the 2024 Kane County Food and Farm Resiliency Grant. The farm serves as a model for integrating sustainable agricultural practices with key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The grant, funded by the American Rescue Plan, was designed to support local farms in their recovery from pandemic-related economic challenges and to strengthen the regional food system, directly contributing to several SDGs.

Farm Profile and Operational Overview

Background

Strom Family Farm, operated by Tyler Strom, has evolved from a small family sweet corn stand into a diversified agricultural enterprise. Mr. Strom’s work is informed by his roles as a sustainability consultant, nonprofit executive, and adjunct professor in sustainable food systems. This multifaceted expertise guides the farm’s mission to bridge academic principles with practical, on-the-ground agricultural challenges.

Production and Offerings

The farm provides a wide variety of produce and honey to the Kane County community, directly supporting local food security. Products available at the farm store include:

• Tomatoes
• Onions and Scallions
• Peppers and Eggplant
• Squash and Pumpkins
• Potatoes, Beets, and Carrots
• Kale, Spinach, and Brussels Sprouts
• Garlic, Beans, and Radishes
• Cucumbers
• Watermelons and Cantaloupes
• Herbs
• Sweet Corn

Analysis of Grant Impact on SDG Attainment

Grant Utilization

The 2024 Food & Farm Resiliency Grant provided critical capital for investments aimed at enhancing operational sustainability and resilience. The funds were allocated to three primary areas:

1. Enhanced marketing efforts to broaden access to fresh, local food for Kane County families.
2. Purchase of essential growing and production supplies to ensure consistent output.
3. Investment in equipment to increase efficiency and support soil-friendly cultivation practices.

Contribution to SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

By providing timely financial assistance, the grant enabled Strom Family Farm to overcome economic shocks and invest in its operational backbone. This support for a small, local enterprise fosters sustainable economic growth and builds resilience within the local agricultural sector, aligning with the objectives of SDG 8.

Integration of Sustainable Development Goals in Farm Operations

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

The farm’s core mission of growing and distributing a diverse range of fresh produce directly addresses SDG 2 by enhancing local food security and promoting sustainable agriculture. The grant-funded investments bolster the farm’s capacity to produce high-quality food for the community.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Strom Family Farm contributes to SDG 11 by preserving agricultural land as green open space, protecting local cultural heritage through its family-run model, and strengthening the regional food system. These actions make the Kane County community more inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

The farm’s commitment to soil-friendly cultivation and direct-to-consumer sales promotes sustainable production patterns. The investment in new equipment supports these practices, ensuring the responsible management of natural resources, a key target of SDG 12.

SDG 15: Life on Land

A significant contribution is made to SDG 15 through dedicated conservation efforts. Since entering the County’s Farmland Preservation Program in 2001, the farm has actively worked to:

• Restore a remnant oak savannah ecosystem.
• Support prairie restoration on the property.
• Integrate habitat for pollinators and other wildlife.

These actions directly combat biodiversity loss and promote the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.

Future Projections and Strategic Needs for 2026

Core Requirements for Sustainability

To ensure continued operations and contributions to the SDGs, the farm has identified several fundamental needs:

• Investment in modern infrastructure.
• Acquisition of reliable and efficient equipment.
• Support for the restoration of the farm’s historic 1909 barn.
• Continued access to local markets that prioritize sustainably grown food.

Advancing SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Looking ahead, the farm plans to expand its community engagement, which aligns with SDG 17. Planned initiatives include developing educational partnerships and hosting on-farm events such as tours, workshops, and community gatherings. These activities will strengthen the network between consumers and producers, fostering multi-stakeholder partnerships to advance sustainable development in the region.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on Strom Family Farm and the Kane County Food and Farm Resiliency Program addresses several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The analysis identifies connections to the following goals:

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger: The core focus of the article is on strengthening the local food system, supporting small-scale farmers, and providing fresh, local produce to the community.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The article highlights the economic challenges faced by small farms and the role of financial support, like the resiliency grant, in promoting the viability and growth of small agricultural enterprises.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The farm’s participation in the Farmland Preservation Program and its role in preserving agricultural heritage and open space contribute to sustainable land use and community resilience.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The farm’s emphasis on a local food system, sustainable practices, and plans for community education promote sustainable production patterns and informed consumer choices.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: The article explicitly details the farm’s efforts in land stewardship, including the restoration of natural ecosystems like oak savannah and prairie, supporting biodiversity, and using soil-friendly cultivation practices.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the activities and initiatives described in the article, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Under SDG 2 (Zero Hunger):
   • Target 2.3: Double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers. The article focuses on supporting a small family farm to “strengthen its operational backbone” and “increase efficiency” through a grant, directly aligning with supporting small-scale producers.
   • Target 2.4: Ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices. The farm’s use of grant funds for “soil-friendly cultivation practices” and the program’s goal to “strengthen the region’s food system” are direct examples of working towards this target.
2. Under SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth):
   • Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities… and encourage the… growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services. The Kane County Food and Farm Resiliency Program, which provides grants to small farms like Strom’s, is a clear example of such a policy providing access to financial services.
3. Under SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities):
   • Target 11.4: Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage. The farm’s commitment to preserving its “agricultural heritage” and its plan to “restore the farm’s 1909 historic barn” directly support this target.
4. Under SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production):
   • Target 12.8: Ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development. Tyler Strom’s plans to “grow educational partnerships” and offer “field tours, workshops, and community-focused gatherings” aim to engage people directly with sustainable agriculture, fulfilling this target.
5. Under SDG 15 (Life on Land):
   • Target 15.1: Ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems. The article states that the family has “restored the farm’s natural ecosystems, reviving a remnant oak savannah, supporting prairie restoration.”
   • Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity. The farm’s work in “integrating habitat that benefits a wide variety of pollinators and wildlife” is a direct action towards this target.
   • Target 15.9: Integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into… local planning. The farm’s participation in the “County’s Farmland Preservation Program to ensure that the land remains permanently protected for agricultural use” is an example of integrating conservation values into local planning.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article mentions or implies several qualitative and quantitative indicators that can be used to measure progress:

• Indicator for Target 2.3/8.3: The number of local farms receiving financial support. The article spotlights “local farms that received grants through Kane County’s 2024 Food and Farm Resiliency Program,” implying that the number of grant recipients is a key metric of the program’s reach.
• Indicator for Target 2.4: The adoption of sustainable farming practices. The article mentions the farm’s investment in equipment to support “soil-friendly cultivation practices” as a direct outcome of the grant.
• Indicator for Target 11.4: The number of cultural heritage sites under preservation. The plan to “restore the farm’s 1909 historic barn” serves as a specific project that can be tracked.
• Indicator for Target 12.8: The number of educational events and participants. The farm’s future plans to “introduce more special events on the farm, offering field tours, workshops, and community-focused gatherings” provide a clear, measurable indicator of progress in public education.
• Indicator for Target 15.1/15.5: The area of land under restoration and conservation. The article specifies the restoration of an “oak savannah” and “prairie” and the integration of “habitat that benefits a wide variety of pollinators and wildlife.” The acreage of these restored areas would be a direct indicator.
• Indicator for Target 15.9: The area of farmland protected from development. The article states the farm entered the “County’s Farmland Preservation Program to ensure that the land remains permanently protected,” making the total acreage in this program a key indicator.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: kanecountyconnects.com