Where family, farming, and education meet: Dittmar Farms and Orchard
For as long as she can remember, fall has meant more than cold air and colorful leaves for Cora Dittmar. It has meant weekends on the family farm, helping customers find the perfect pumpkin, frying apple cider donuts, and hearing her grandpa tell stories about the land that’s been in their family since 1854.
Dittmar Farms and Orchard, located near Elizabeth, Illinois, opened in 2013 as a way for Cora’s parents, Mike and Jonna, and her grandparents, Rick and Peg, to continue the family’s legacy in a new way. The Dittmar farm had raised dairy cows, beef cattle, hogs, and chickens for generations. But after Cora’s great-grandfather passed away, the family decided to shift from traditional livestock farming to specialty crops.
Today, Dittmar Farms and Orchard is a fall destination, a “you-pick” pumpkin patch and apple orchard. It draws families from across the state. The Dittmars’ goal is to create a place where families can experience local agriculture firsthand.
From the corn maze and gourd launcher to rides on a pony named “Chunky Monkey," to a petting zoo sponsored by The Country Experience, there’s something for everyone. “We’ve curated it to be fun for kids. Kids under five get in free,” Cora said. “It’s all about giving people that fall family experience.”
Every member of the Dittmar family has an important role in making the fall season run smoothly. Cora’s mom is in charge of the produce stand and the famous apple cider donuts, which were originally made in a church kitchen before the family upgraded to one on the farm. Her grandpa, lovingly known as “Papa Rick,” drives the hayrack rides.
Cora’s siblings, Damon (17), Ella (14), and Anna (12), create fun games and activities, like the pumpkin launcher that is always a hit. Her dad teaches high school history and government, and her mom is a special education teacher, but education doesn’t stop for them on the weekends.
In addition to family members, the weekend crew at Dittmar Farms is made up of high school students from Cora’s dad’s classes. This is just another reason why the operation is so special — it gives teenagers the opportunity for employment and to be a part of something for the community.
Dittmar Farms and Orchard has been a lifelong classroom for Cora — literally. The farm opened when she was just nine years old, and since then, she’s done just about everything. From stacking square bales and caring for animals to working the front gate, she’s had the unique experience of learning by doing. But her favorite role has always been greeting visitors.
“I loved being the first face people saw,” she said. “We get so many visitors from the city, and I got to introduce them to agriculture. It taught me how to talk about farming in a way anyone could understand.”
Her passion for connecting people with agriculture inspired Cora to major in Agricultural Education through the Agricultural Leadership Education and Communications program within the College of Agricultural Consumer and Environmental Sciences. “I didn’t want to focus on just one part of agriculture,” she said. “I love it all… the animals, food, nutrition, people. Teaching agriculture lets me share that.”
Cora is also pursuing a degree in Spanish, hoping it will help her connect with even more communities in the future.
In the midst of her busy school schedule, coming home to the farm during the fall is something she prioritizes because it brings her peace and keeps her grounded. “Being in that atmosphere is where I want to be,” she said. “It’s special to come back to the place my family and I built together.”
For Cora, her career path in agriculture education isn’t just about passion — it’s about continuing a family legacy of education, community building, and outreach.
Check out Dittmar Farms and Orchard for a fun family-friendly fall experience to celebrate local agriculture. There is live music every Friday night, and they are open Saturday 10-5 p.m. and Sunday 10-4 p.m.