Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery: A Working Dairy with a World-Class Table
Just minutes from Champaign-Urbana, Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery is where award-winning goat cheese, pasture strolls, educational workshops, farm-to-table cuisine, and baby-goat joy all come together. With Lauren and Jeff Brokish at the helm, the farm delivers a countryside experience that feels like a mini vacation.
Farm History
Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery began in 2004 when founders and co-owners Leslie Cooperband and Wes Jarrell planted a three-acre organic fruit orchard and bought their first three Nubian goats. As professors of soil and environmental sciences, they transformed their land from cash-grain agriculture into perennial fruits and pastures, using organic, sustainable practices.
In 2005, they built Illinois’ first farmstead creamery, milking 25 goats and making fresh goat cheese right on the farm. Their herd earned Animal Welfare Approved certification in 2010. Over the next two decades, the farm grew steadily: expanding the milking herd, adding land for rotational grazing, winning national awards for its cheeses, and developing a commercial kitchen for farm-to-table dining and agritourism experiences.
In February 2024, the farm entered an exciting new chapter when Leslie and Wes sold it to Lauren and Jeffrey Brokish, owners of Salt Fork Foodworks (which includes local favorites Martinelli’s Market, Central Illinois Bakehouse, Pekara Bakery & Bistro, and Espresso Royale). With deep experience in food and hospitality, Lauren and Jeffrey strengthened the farm’s visitor offerings—building an on-farm restaurant, Caprae, and upgrading infrastructure to support more extensive, year-round experiences.
Neither Lauren nor Jeffrey comes from a traditional farming background, but both are Midwesterners with strong Champaign-area roots. Jeffrey grew up in Champaign-Urbana, and his father is an agronomist and corn breeder. Lauren grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with family ties to Champaign-Urbana and the University of Illinois community. As they entered the small business community, their goal stayed consistent: create food-centric places that elevate quality of life for people in Champaign-Urbana. And their love of good cuisine spurred them to preserve local the local businesses crafting and producing artisan foods.
Core Values, Rooted in Integrity
First and foremost, Lauren and Jeffrey wanted to preserve and protect what makes Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery special: its connection to the community, commitment to animal welfare and environmental integrity, and its award-winning cheeses. They also understood a key reality—running a goat dairy and creamery well (and taking good care of staff) is expensive, and growing the agritourism side of the business would be necessary to offset the costs.
They’re passionate about welcoming guests to the farm, offering them world-class seasonal dishes (and a craft cocktail) while they tour the farm and meet the goats. They’re also committed showcasing how the farm is run, how the cheeses are made, and how the goats are cared for, creating a relaxing, beautiful space to simply be outdoors. And thanks to the farm’s location, near town and close to I-57 and I-74, it’s an easy, quick escape that still feels “out in the country.”
Favorite things & unique aspects
Lauren calls herself “a lake girl” (she is from Michigan, after all); one of her favorite rituals at the farm is walking the pasture path to watch the sunset over the pond. It’s restorative to just stare at a body of water, enjoy nature, and forget your worries.
She’s also proud of the farm’s zero-waste-minded recycling systems. Goats browse the pasture and naturally fertilize grasses, while barn manure is composted and turned into a saleable product. Whey (the liquid portion of cheesemaking) is captured daily and spread on the compost or farm’s pastures. Their innovative wastewater treatment system produces exceptionally clean effluent, and the team works to compost food waste and recycle as much as possible—especially as agritourism grows.
Dining-wise, Lauren and Jeffrey love highlighting the caliber of Caprae’s seasonal dinners, which have drawn attention near and far. Adding live music has created a chill place to enjoy great food outdoors. Meanwhile, the cheesemaking team continues racking up national recognition—proof that the creamery’s heart hasn’t changed, even as the farm evolves.
Lauren and Jeff have also forged a strong relationship with the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, offering hands-on learning opportunities for students. Of course, goats are the headliners—especially in early spring during kidding season, when volunteers get to hold and feed baby goats (an instant endorphin rush). New monthly events that encourage guests to interact with goats and weekly goat hikes keep visitors coming back.
Come for the goats, stay for the experience
Prairie Fruits is Illinois’ first farmstead creamery, and it remains a working goat dairy and award-winning cheese facility. It’s also one of the few operating dairies that also offers robust agritourism. Visitors can enjoy everything from cheese tastings to goat milk gelato, plus the standout dining experience at Caprae. With an extensive vegetable garden and a menu that highlights local food through the seasons, the farm has become a true culinary destination for central Illinois.
For visitors who want more than an afternoon escape, Prairie Fruits also offers overnight stays at the farmhouse. It’s perfect for out-of-town guests coming in for one of the farm’s beloved evening farm-to-table dinners, as well as longer stays for anyone curious about an immersive farm experience.
Future Plans
With the construction of a new barn that now houses a farm store and farm classroom, Prairie Fruits now showcases locally grown foods (meats, poultry, eggs, milk) alongside the farm’s own cheeses and produce, and offers classes ranging from cheese appreciation and cheesemaking to food preservation.
In 2025, a sunflower maze and native perennials were planted, and monthly themed weekend events continue to grow. With support from local non-profit Prairie Rivers Network, Prairie Fruits is creating a self-guided trail around the farm. Fan favorites like goat yoga and goat hikes continue—and yes, there’s even a pack-goat picnic experience by the pond.
Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery is a rare kind of place: a working dairy with real agricultural roots that also knows how to host you beautifully. Whether you come for the cheese, the gelato, the goats, or the golden-hour pond views, you’ll leave feeling both well-fed and wonderfully reset.
CU on the Farm!
Sign up for our CU on the Farm Experience Pass and visit Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery (along with 15+ Champaign-Urbana area farms)!