Lambs Farm

Lambs Farm is family attraction in Libertyville, Illinois which consists of a petting zoo, pet shop, miniature golf course, several small amusement rides, a restaurant, and a country store. A non-profit organization, it provides jobs and housing for over 250 adults with developmental disabilities.

Lambs Farm was founded in the 1960s by Corrine Owen and Robert Terese. Owen and Terese had been teaching at a school for developmentally challenged adults, and were discouraged by the limited opportunities available to such people. In 1961, they opened a pet store near Chicago's Gold Coast and employed twelve of their students, who enthusiastically helped tend to the animals. Four years later, Owen and Therese acquired a 70-acre farm in Libertyville with the help of W. Clement Stone and began developing the current Lambs Farm facility. By the late 1980s, Lambs Farm was hosting over 300,000 visitors a year, making it the third most popular attraction in Lake County, Illinois (behind Great America and the Ravinia Festival). [Delia O'Hare. "Common ground - Lambs Farm raises quality of life for mentally retarded". "Chicago Sun-Times". October 15, 1989. 35.]

The farm takes its name from , in which Jesus tells St. Peter, "Feed my lambs." [Patricia Leeds. "Retarded find haven at Lambs Farm". "Chicago Tribune". June 20, 1974. S8.]

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External links

* [http://www.lambsfarm.org/index.html Lambs Farm]