Explore specialty crops and production. 

Sunnybrook Gardens is a local family-owned and operated specialty crop farm growing fruits, vegetables & flowers. After more than 30 years in the coal mines, Mike Huff retired and made his favorite hobby (gardening) his new career. After taking the beginning farmers course at the University of Illinois Dixon Springs Agricultural Center to learn to grow fruits and vegetables on a larger scale, he teamed up with his son, Brandon, and opened Sunnybrook Gardens in 2004. Brandon and his wife, Nathelee, now work full time on the farm and have found ways to expand and grow. Participants can learn about the variety of specialty crops grown on the farm and tour the commercial kitchen where the Huffs process and freeze sweet corn and peaches.

There is no cost to attend, but registration is required. To register for any (or all) of the meetings in this series, visit go.illinois.edu/twilightseries or call (618) 695-2441.

Explore Additional Programs in the Southern Illinois Summer Twilight Series

During warm summer evenings, you’ll find our Local Foods team hosting events to highlight and demonstrate diverse farming enterprises across southern Illinois. Over the past nine years, the team has partnered with area farms to provide evening twilight meetings to allow participants to experience different types of production and marketing practices utilized by local producers. 

May 13 | Cattle and Hog Production and Custom Processing
Legacy Meats LLC (Sumner)

June 17 | Largemouth Bass Fish Farm and Diverse Row Crops Farm
McLane Farms (Jonesboro)

July 15 | Cut Flower Farm and Market
Blessed Blooms (Fairfield)