Berning Acres a Family Dairy Farm & Tours

★★★★★Jessica Gardner

We had an amazing time on the farm tour!! We were so excited to milk a cow, feed a baby calf a bottle and pet and interact with so many animals!! Our tour guide, Louis, was the best! His knowledge of the animals, caring for them and even sharing info on the business side of farming was amazing! He let us interact with the geese, chickens, pony and goats, teaching us about them, too. Plus he made sure to catch a baby goat for us to hold! This was by far the best thing we’ve done on our trip to Galena! Just 15 minutes away and so worth it!!

★★★★★Paul Clark

My family and I decided to visit after my wife’s class “adopted” one of the calves at Berning Acres. We were able to meet the adopted calf, “Rizzo” during our visit which was great. Natalie and Matt were awesome hosts during our visit. Our kids enjoyed getting to see and meet the various cows, chickens, and goats. I personally enjoyed getting to hear about their dairy operation and how much work it takes to provide dairy products to consumers like me. If you’re looking for a fun, yet educational trip, hosted by a great couple, while you’re in the Galena area, put this place on your list. Thanks again Natalie and Matt!

★★★★★Debbie

Galena is not just wine tours and shopping. Berning Acres is a beautiful dairy farm. Matt and his wife Nicole are the owners and that day we were hosted by Matt. He was both hospitable and informative. He taught us about his dairy farm and made us feel so welcome. The weather was beautiful that day. We were able to feed the calves and a baby lamb with bottles, milk a cow, and feed goats. It was the highlight of our trip to Galena! We highly recommend this tour.

★★★★★Stephanie Rudat

A special, informative experience to tour this robust dairy farm with my child. Natalie led us on a tour of the farm, sharing every single aspect of what is involved to ethically and lovingly raise dairy cattle and run a business. She is a mother, wife, educator, and organizer of special opportunities and events on the family farm. Efficiency is a critical aspect of farming but we learned that maintaining a pleasurable living experience for every single cow, in every single stage of its life, is also critical. From the high dietary standards, weekly vet visits, having predictable routines, to conscientious individual care, it was heartening to observe their dedication to giving the cattle a high quality life. Of particular interest, learning about the systems used to track activity of each cow including their movement, temperature, consumption, and production, in order to ensure they receive the attention they need to feel their best was impressive. Review of data points collected from these system allows the team to identify trends, recognize if a medical response is warranted, or simply make modifications to avoid problems. While the tour is extensive, it's peppered with opportunities to be hands on with the cattle. Milking cows, bottle feeding calves, petting cows of various stages in life, meeting other farm animals and seizing the opportunity for my son to go on a pony ride gave us a balanced experience of educational immersion. We have been talking about this adventure to Berning Acres Farm nonstop and feel blessed to have had this opportunity. We would recommend it to anyone who values ethical, sustainable farming.

★★★★★Peggy Freeman

My husband and I decided to try out the farm tour at Berning Acres while we were visiting Galena, IL this summer. We had visited another dairy farm in the past and though it was interesting, it didn't hold a candle to Berning Acres. Farmer Natalie reached out in advance and let us know the "ground rules" for everyone's safety. We arrived a little before our tour and waited until it was time to go inside. We were joined by a multi-generational family group, including grandparents in their sixties, their adult children, and grandchildren aged about 2 to 10. There truly was something for everyone. Natalie was very engaging with each age group and made sure we learned all the cool things about their "girls." From the time the tour begins, you are immersed in all aspects of the farm, the cows, the fermenting hay, the workers doing their jobs and the delightful Berning family (we only met her sons but I'm confident that her daughters are just as wonderful) and their other farm animals! We were able to get up close and personal with new born cows, feed three-week-old calves and learn about all of the spoiling that goes into those mama cows as they prepare to birth their calves. We even had the chance, if we wanted to try our hand at milking. Natalie was very candid about the effort and investment involved in family farming, highlighting how advancements in technology help ensure the health and proper nutrition of cows at all ages. Aside from the farm tour, they also offer a farm camp and some really cool adult adventures with craft beers and wines (great ideas for a girls’ weekend!), they have amazing Berning Acres cheeses as well.