Blog

Participants brought home the W.

During Direct Support Professionals (DSP) Week, we want to extend our deepest gratitude for the incredible work our DSPs do each day. Their dedication, compassion, and commitment to supporting the men and women of Lambs Farm is truly inspiring.

We had a blast celebrating our accomplished athletes and dedicated volunteers at the 21st Annual Lambs Farm Sports Banquet! It is amazing to watch participants crush their goals, learn the value of teamwork and most importantly, have fun playing the sports they...

Thanks to a generous donor and hardworking staff, we redecorated Green-Field, our intermediate care facility. The building got a fresh coat of calming blue paint and and new furniture. Fiberglass wood paneling was also installed to support and protect the walls from...

Lights, camera, action! The star-studded cast of The Little Mermaid walked the red carpet at their movie premiere.Thank you to the family and friends who came to see participant actors on the big screen and a special shout out to Janine and Erin, the incredible...

Participants, staff, families and friends had a wonderful time celebrating at the 31st Annual Lambs Farm Holiday Party!  Board member Karen Lieberman graciously carries on this special tradition year after year, and the party has become a much-loved holiday staple for...

From bags and basketball to soccer and floor hockey, our awesome athletes crushed the FUNdamentals competition! FUNdamentals is designed for participants who are physically unable to compete in other Special Olympics games. With modifications, everyone at Lambs Farm...

After a summer full of sunshine and ice cream making, participant bakers have switched gears and are in full holiday mode. The bakery is a joyful place all year long, but during catalog season, there’s a little extra magic. The sweet smell of freshly baked Famous...

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month! We proudly celebrate our participants all year long, but this month we are excited to spread awareness and share some outstanding accomplishments.   Meet JessicaJessica is an employee at the Magnolia Cafe...

In September, staff held the inaugural Partcipant Job Skills Fair. This event was designed for participants to learn new skills and gain confidence while learning about employment opportunities both on and off campus. As they tried different tasks at each station,...

The excitement was real when Hannah Brummer made a special guest appearance in Digital Creations Quest class! Participants had a ton of fun dancing, making TikToks and learning about the radio industry. They even got behind the mic to work on their interviewing...

On Thursday, August 10, athletes, staff, families and friends met in the Wellness Center to celebrate another amazing year of Special Olympics. Everyone enjoyed a delicious dinner while watching highlight reels of special memories captured during practices, games and...

After lots of hard work and practice, the Special Olympics golf team competed at the Barlett golf course. Everyone did a fantastic job and several athletes brought home some new hardware! Chris Walti took second place, Brooke Aldridge, Tom Durbin. Thorn Hill and MJ...

Lambs Farm participants Brian, Andy and Josh are proud Tamarisk NorthShore employees. One day they were doing their usual cleaning rounds when they heard a resident who sounded like they needed help in their apartment. Brian acted immediately by going downstairs to...

Thanks to our generous donors, Gerry and Olivia Shapiro, the Pet Center underwent a big renovation. The puppy viewing room wall was extended and separated into three large areas for guests to meet and play with our adoptable puppies. The spacious viewing rooms have a...

  Summer is in full swing for the men and women of Lambs Farm and they are having a blast! They welcomed the season with a summer kickoff dance. After having a delicious dinner, participants, staff and volunteers played yard games and enjoyed music, dancing and...

On June 2, guests, participants and staff gathered at the Farmyard for a carousel unveiling celebration. David Hamel, the dedicated volunteer who took on the huge undertaking of renovating all 16 beautiful carousel horses, spoke about the meticulous yet fulfilling...

After two years of virtual galas, we were excited to welcome guests to the elegant and historic Cuneo Mansion & Gardens for Celebrating the Spirit 2023. It was a beautiful evening dedicated to celebrating the courage of our co-founders, the determination of our...

One of our most popular Farmyard friends, Rocky the White Park cow, turned one on Tuesday, May 16! Rocky showed up in his party hat and was ready to celebrate! Animal keepers kicked off his big day with an educational chat and gave Rocky his very own birthday cake....

David Hamel, an incredibly kind and generous volunteer, took on the huge project of renovating all 16 horeses on our iconic carousel. David began working on the horses in August 2021 with direction from carousel-restoration expert, Lisa Parr. He received help on the...

If there is one thing the men and women of Lambs Farm love, it’s breaking it down on the dance floor! The COVID-19 pandemic put a hold on bimonthly dances, but thanks to our generous donors, we brought them back better than ever. We held a Valentine’s Day fundraiser...

The Wellness Center at Lambs Farm focuses on helping Participants lead healthy lifestyles through diet and exercise programs, activities, sports and education.   This winter, athletes are staying busy competing in their favorite Special Olympic games. They kicked off...

We are counting down the days until the Farmyard opens for the 2023 season on Friday, April 7! During the winter months, animal keepers have been taking care of our 300+ animals and brainstorming even more fun and innovative ideas for our guests to enjoy this season....

The men and women of Lambs Farm have choices in every aspect of their lives, including employment. Eli, a Lambs Farm Participant, hadn’t found the right fit for him just yet. That was until he was presented with a unique opportunity.   Eli was partaking in activities...

With profound gratitude for her remarkable 21 years of service, the Lambs Farm Board of Directors announces the retirement of the President and CEO, Dianne Yaconetti. “Dianne’s extraordinary love for Lambs Farm and our Participants has been the foundation for her many...

Lambs Industries, one of the businesses on campus, is a place where Participants have the opportunity to gain important skills by working on subcontract jobs such as packaging and assembly. Our dedicated staff partner with several large companies and work extremely...

Have you ever noticed the tall Muffler Man & Giant Cow right off I-94, or when you walk through the entrance of our Farmyard? You cannot miss them! Paul Bunyan, standing at 21 feet high, right next to Bessie the Cow, has been part of Lambs Farm Farmyard since...

Our carousel, a historic icon at Lambs Farm since 1996, is a source of greatfun for our visitors and a special job opportunity for our residents. And now, it’s getting a much-deserved restoration. The beloved attraction features 16 “jumpers” – horses with all four...

As #DevelopmentalDisabilitiesMonth comes to a close, we want to share the story of Lambs Farm Participant, Wayne!    Wayne has been at Lambs Farm since 2009. He loves caring for the puppies at the Dogwood Garden & Pet Center but felt he was ready to try working in...

It was another eventful holiday season at Lambs Farm as Sugar Maple Country Store staff and Participants hit record-breaking sales. Through our partnership with Packed with Purpose, a special gifting company with a social mission, we fulfilled one of our biggest...

The Magnolia Cafe & Bakery is one of the many wonderful places at Lambs Farm. All year long, guests come to the Cafe to enjoy a homemade meal at any time of day. They are welcomed and served by the men and women of Lambs Farm, who take great pride in their jobs...

Another year is flying by, and that means the holiday season is right around the corner! We know it can be stressful to shop for everyone on your never-ending list, but the men and women of Lambs Farm are here to help you out. Our virtual catalog features classic...

2021 is a big year for Lambs Farm because of a special milestone — our 60th anniversary! It’s hard to believe that six decades ago, our Co-Founders Bob Terese and Corinne Owen opened a small pet shop on State Street that has changed the lives of individuals with...

On September 5, WGN visited Lambs Farm to learn about our mission and to highlight our 60th anniversary. Reporter Marcella Raymond got a special tour of our businesses. She spent time with the animals and completely fell in love with our beloved pig named PigPig and...

Animal lovers and breeds of all kinds joined us at our first DOGwood Day – 1 Day of Puppy Love on Saturday, August 7 to celebrate the special bond between dogs and mankind. Guests could browse vendor booths, work on cute crafts at the K9 Kids Corner, enjoy a meal at...

2021 is a special year because it marks our 60th anniversary! In honor of this big milestone, we decided to create a virtual 60K Challenge in lieu of our traditional Fun & Fit Family Day to celebrate with our supporters all around the country. The challenge starts...

In April, we celebrated Volunteer Appreciation month. Lambs Farm would not be what it is today without our volunteers. Since the Pet Shop opened its doors on State Street in 1961, volunteers have made a big impact and continue to do so every day. They are an integral...

The Farmyard opened for the 2021 season on Saturday, April 3. It was a beautiful weekend to welcome guests back to visit over 300 animals, including several baby goats and lambs who recently joined the Lambs Farm family. Guests can now support their favorite new and...

It has been over a year since the COVID-19 pandemic took the world by storm. It has been a long road, but we are finally beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel as cases decline and vaccinations become more accessible. As the state of Illinois slowly...

Our Farmyard friends have been enjoying all kinds of special treats from the community! In the fall, the Farmyard began accepting pumpkin, corn stalk and hay bale donations. Animals like pigs, cows, tortoises, goats and sheep love snacking on pulp, while the birds and...

It truly was a holiday season like never before as we navigated through the challenges caused by the pandemic during our busiest time of year. We had to make the difficult decision to cancel Breakfast with Santa, an event that is a long-standing highlight of the...

Though the holidays looked much different this year due to the pandemic, staff did all they could to make sure Participants had a great time celebrating in the comfort of their homes. They planned Hanukkah celebrations which consisted of traditional and delicious...

The holiday season is coming up quick, and just like everything else this year, it will look a bit different than before. The Sugar Maple Country Store & Bakery’s carefully hand-crafted cookies and chocolates will still be made from scratch with only the finest...

In July, we welcomed guests back to Lambs Farm businesses after being closed for nearly four months due to COVID-19. Prior to reopening, a detailed plan with specific guidelines developed by the State of Illinois was put in place to keep everyone healthy as we safely...

The men and women of Lambs Farm have been home for quite some time, but staff continually come up with ways to keep them busy, active and happy. Many Participants have pursued new interests with their extra time. The Stone Apartment residents have become experts at...

The COVID-19 outbreak has been a difficult time for all, but Lambs Farm staff have been able to adapt to many changes. They continue to work together as a team, stay positive and use universal precautions to keep the men and women of Lambs Farm safe and healthy. When...

Though the holidays looked much different this year due to the pandemic, staff did all they could to make sure Participants had a great time celebrating in the comfort of their homes. They planned Hanukkah celebrations which consisted of traditional and delicious...

Fox 32 News made a special trip to the Farmyard on January 5 to get the lowdown on Christmas tree donations.  The news station reached out after seeing the adorable video of Joseph the Dromedary Camel stomping and rubbing against a tree on Facebook. The video went...

Libby, a Lambs Farm Participant since 1969, has a true passion for painting. Her early introduction to colors made her a huge fan of all things art. From the time Libby could pick up a brush, she worked on paint by numbers with her mother and spent hours precisely...

“We miss George at the Magnolia Café & Bakery,” Participants Sari and Tom said. “He was a fun guy to work with.” George, a Lambs Farm Participant, is now a retired man. He took on janitorial duties at the restaurant for 21 years. George loved spending his work...

When you visit the Dogwood Garden & Pet Center, there’s a good chance that Brian, a Lambs Farm Participant, will greet you with a big smile. Brian has worked in the Pet Center for an impressive 25 years, and he truly loves his job. He spends his work days keeping...

In honor of the Special Olympics 50th Anniversary, Mike, a well-rounded athlete, reflects on his accomplishments since joining Lambs Farm in 1984. “My life has changed since I started competing,” Mike said. “I’ve been playing sports for as long as I’ve been at Lambs.”...

In the fall of 2018, Highland Middle School students chose Lambs Farm as their school-wide charity of the year. By the time school let out for summer in May, they managed to raise an impressive $8,743 for the men and women of Lambs Farm. Students worked together to...

A new Quest class started this year with the help of Michele Hendrickson, a Lambs Farm Participant. Michele has cerebral palsy, which affects the movement of her right hand. Michele never lets her disability limit her love for crafts. Michele has always had a passion...

At age six, sign language was merely an interest for Sarah. Years later, her skill has given her the passion, determination and voice to speak on behalf of the special needs community at Lambs Farm and beyond. Sarah’s story begins with Linda Bove, the actress with...

“I just feel very proud,” Laura said as tears gently streamed down her face after sharing her accomplishments since becoming a Lambs Farm Participant in 1980. In the time Laura has called Lambs Farm home, she has grown in all aspects of her life. She loves competing...

Lambs Farm is devoted to providing the best resources and opportunities possible to Participants in all areas of life. The Wellness Department carries out Lambs Farm’s mission by promoting healthy lifestyles with a variety of activities. While Participants have many...

After 15 years, a special club formed by a common interest and fate continues to offer Lambs Farm Participants the opportunity to grow, experience fulfillment and create special memories. Jeanne Curtin, the admirable volunteer and club coordinator, can hardly believe...

“I could maybe take over her job,” Tom, a Participant at Lambs Farm, says with a smile. He is referring to Elaine Bock, the manager of Magnolia Café & Bakery, as he goes through his list of tasks he has mastered while working at the restaurant. Lambs Farm offers...