VEHE FARM TIMELINE

1999

Village applies for a grant to help purchase the Vehe property.
Village purchases the Vehe Property.

2000-2003

Vehe farmhouse is rehabbed and converted to the Village Office.
Capital improvements begun: grading, soccer field, etc.
Exterior barn rehab begins.
Shed and chicken coop rehab begins.
Vehe Farm Foundation established to assist the Village with the farm restoration and to act as stewards of the site.
Village approves the Vehe Farm vision statement and site plan developed by the Foundation.
Foundation, coordinating with the CFC, begins the prairie and wetland restoration/seeding that continues to this day. John Wagner planted 2,000 wetland plants by hand.
Vehe descendants donate artifacts to Foundation and visit the farm.
Two children-oriented summer events sponsored by the Foundation take place (2001 and 2002).
Vehe Farm Foundation web site created.
Vehe Farm Foundation and Lake County Farm Heritage Association partnership established.
Citizens for Conservation and local Boy Scout troop make bluebird houses and install them at Vehe Farm.

2003 to 2006

Exterior walking paths are approved by Village. Foundation coordinates with Gewalt Hamilton in the installation.
In coordination with the CFC, the Foundation works year-round to remove non-native invasive species from the farm property.
Foundation plants five oak trees on the farm property to supplement the aging cottonwoods.
Foundation works with local Girl/Boy Scouts to help with property clean upand other projects at the farm.
Foundation installs bluebird trail and bluebirds arrive at the farm.
The Betty McLaughlin Memorial Butterfly Garden was planted (using only privately donated funds) by the Foundation. Shortly thereafter, a fence around the garden was installed and a bench provided, both 100 percent funded by donations from the Little Garden Club of Barrington.
The exterior rehab of the barn was completed.
Descendants of the Vehe Family visit the farm and donate various photos and archival materials to the Foundation.
Interior barn renovation begins.
The Village receives the “Conservation and Natural Landscaping Award 2004” from the Chicago Wilderness/Midwest EPA consortium for the prairie/wetland restoration and native landscaping success at Vehe Farm.
Vehe Farm sanctioned a Wildlife Habitat Area by the National Wildlife Federation due to the efforts of the Foundation.
The Audubon Society sanctioned Vehe Farm as a bird and butterfly sanctuary due to the efforts of the Foundation.
The Foundation arranges an Illinois Department of Natural Resources visit to Vehe Farm so that Vehe Farm can be assessed as a potential site for an IDNR educational material trunk.
The Foundation develops the Vehe Farm Barn Operations and Management binder for the Village.
The Foundation developed recommendations for Village approval regarding the Village’s purchase of equipment/systems needed for barn operations as a community center. This included table/chairs, A/V equipment, computer equipment, and kitchen equipment.
Foundation and Village continue to apply for grant funds that would pay for the installation of handicapped accessible trails and interior paths, educational kiosks, a wetland bridge, and a tot lot..
Foundation members take part in an educational butterfly symposium held at the Peggy Notebaert Museum.
Foundation cleans up salvaged old timbers/lumber from barn interior renovation and holds public sale.
The Illinois State Geological Survey Team (ISGST) drills an educational aquifer monitoring drill hole on the property with cooperation with the Foundation and Village. In addition, the Foundation and the IGST work together to design an educational area for the barn’s museum space, to include local geological information as well as core samples from the drill hole.

2007

Donated photographs and other materials are archived by the Foundation.
Final grading and seeding of the barnyard occurs.
The Foundations starts showing the barn to potential renters.
First rental events at the barn are scheduled by the Foundation.
Foundation receives 20 tons of granite donated to help with making the paths handicapped accessible.
The Foundation and the Village continue to apply for grants to help off-set the cost of adding additional recreational activities, interpretive signage, tot lot, making the paths ADA accessible, and more. The Foundation prepares the grant application and binder for the Village.
The Foundation completes the Vehe genealogy with help of the Vehe descendants.
The IDNR, with cooperation of the Vehe Farm Foundation, designates the farm as an educational trunk site. In addition, much of the educational material to be used at the farm has been provided by the IDNR to the Foundation at no cost.
The Foundation sponsors and does all of the prep work for the first barn open house in the spring.
Village and Foundation members take CPR, Heimlich, and AED certification. The AED is installed in the barn.
Numerous magazine and newspaper articles are written focusing on the barn’s history, rentals, municipal campus, Foundation work, and farm property.
Foundation and Health World open discussions regarding the barn holding Health World's off site summer camps. Village approves farm as host site for Health World camps. Village of Deer Park receives approximately $20,000.00 in assets from Health World. The donations included Bessie, a milking cow that now resides in the barn’s museum space. Foundation members are key resources to getting the barn open in time for Health World’s first day of camp. Foundation members work the opening and closing of the camps and, with the help of Health World, set up camp policies and procedures for the Village. Health World’s children educational camps are held from June-August at the barn.
Donations continue to be received by the Foundation for the butterfly garden. They include annuals, seeds, perennials, and copper plant name labels.
National Garden Week Event: with coordination of the Little Garden Club of Barrington and the Foundation, was held at the Betty McLaughlin Memorial Butterfly Garden during June.
Foundation coordinates first Barrington Library storytelling on the farm property in June, July, and October.
Barn tables, chairs, dollies, office furniture are delivered. Foundation verifies the order and oversees delivery.
Foundation prepares work projects for local scouts and scouts list Vehe Farm as a project source on their web site.
Preferred caterers list is begun by Foundation.
Pepper Construction is hired by the Village to complete the interior barn renovation. Foundation acts as liaison to the Village.
The barn A/V is installed with the Foundation acting as liaisons to the Village.
Rental events begin in the summer.
With donation from Little Garden Club of Barrington to the Foundation, the ADA path is installed in the butterfly garden. In addition, Country Bumpkin donates added cost of doing the paths by hand rather than using machines in the garden to the Foundation. Job is overseen by Foundation.
Barn LAN installed, overseen by the Foundation
Parking lot completed in July 2007.
Village hires barn event coordinator.
Storyboards developed by the Foundation and hung in barn.
Foundation designs garden and prairie signs. Signs are installed on property by Foundation.
Storyboards for outbuildings are developed by the Foundation.
History of Deer Park presentation created by Teri Bridge.
Museum space set up for educational venues using IDNR materials by the Foundation.
ISGS educational display readied for barn dedication with coordination of the Foundation.
Museum space children’s library set up by Foundation.
Teri and Dennis Bridge give to the Foundation on a perpetual loan basis the children/farm animal photo montage exhibited in the education/museum space.
The framed charcoal drawing of the original Vehe farmstead, on perpetual loan from the Vehe family in South Dakota, and the two portraits of Ed Vehe’s half brothers are installed in the barn.
First weddings held on the farm property and at the barn in September and October
Donations are received in the form of whiskey barrels, plants, corn stalks, food from caterers; cakes form caterers, balloons, and hay bales for 50th anniversary from local businesses and residents to the Foundation.
Edging pavers for the butterfly garden are donated to the Foundation. Foundation installs pavers around garden.
Grounds are prepped for anniversary event with collaboration of the Foundation, residents, and Village.
Barn readied for anniversary event by event committee, including the Foundation, and local residents.
50th Anniversary of Deer Park and Barn Grand Opening held on September 30, 2007.
Foundation holds fundraiser for matching windmill donation.
Relationship develops between the Foundation and the Field and Garden Club.
Relationship develops between the Long Grove History Society and the Foundation.
Relationship develops between Prairie Woods Audubon Society and Foundation.
The Foundation continues its work on the property removing invasives every Saturday with the cooperation of the CFC.
Foundation harvests and disperses seeds in the prairie with the cooperation of the CFC.
IDNR tree trunk arrives and local schools and organizations are notified that trunk is available for rental by contacting the Foundation.
Additional antique farm implements are donated to Foundation.
Children’s educational animal paw print packets and tracks are developed in collaboration with local Girl Scout troop and Foundation. This will eventually be part of a “No Child Left Indoors” program at the Vehe Farm, which is part of a regional Chicago Wilderness effort.
Village hires new sire coordinator.
The “brand” for communications/marketing materials is developed for Vehe Farm.
Barn IT is finalized by the Foundation and handed over to Village.
Foundation coordinates the purchase and installation of the windmill. All costs are covered by private donations.
Stone pillars from the Quay property are moved to Vehe Farm by Brian Toczyski for his Eagle Scout Project. He accomplishes this with the help of Pepper Construction, Kildeer Police, and Pat Winkelman.
New agreement between Foundation and Village is developed by Foundation.