Midwest Dairy continued its work to build trust in modern farming by participating in the Illinois Farm Families (IFF) Coalition, a partnership that brings together the Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Beef Association, Illinois Corn Marketing Board, Illinois Pork Producers, Illinois Soybean Association, and Midwest Dairy. Together, these organizations work to help Chicagoland parents better understand how their food is grown and raised while introducing them to real farmers and their stories.
In 2025, the coalition launched a new partnership with the Chicago Wolves, creating meaningful opportunities for Illinois farmers to connect with families right where they gather, at hometown hockey games. The partnership included a presence during five home games, featuring an interactive IFF booth on the main concourse.
Connecting Families with Real Illinois Farmers
On Nov. 9 and Nov. 16, Illinois dairy farmers met face-to-face with Wolves fans to share what life is like on their farms. Andy and Lucas Lenkaitis represented Midwest Dairy during the first game, while employees from Golden Oaks Farm greeted families the following weekend. These conversations allowed fans to ask questions, learn how farmers care for their animals, and see firsthand the pride Illinois farm families take in their work.
The booth highlighted a key message: 96% of Illinois farms are family-owned. It also featured a popular “Farm Four” game, educational signage, and displays showing products grown and raised in Illinois. Families enjoyed discovering fun facts, like Illinois being the nation’s top producer of soybeans, horseradish, and pumpkins.
Bringing Farming Into the Game-Day Experience
The partnership extended far beyond the booth. Chicago Wolves players wore a custom IFF jersey during one of the designated games, further drawing attention to local farmers. Fans also experienced messages about Illinois agriculture through jumbotron signage, social media posts, intermission features, a landing page on the Wolves website, in-game trivia questions, custom jersey raffles, and promotional giveaways from volunteers.
Strengthening Trust Through Real Connections
By bringing Illinois farm families into a fun, high-energy environment, this partnership helped build trust, answer questions, and highlight the important role local farmers play in feeding Illinois communities.
