Historic Wagner Farm was owned and operated by the Wagner family as a working farm from the early 1900s until 1997. After the death of the last Wagner family member, the property was at risk of residential development.

In 1998, Glenview voters approved the Farm and Field referendum, authorizing the Glenview Park District to purchase the property. The referendum did not create a farm. It preserved an existing working farm and ensured it would remain a historic, educational and agricultural resource under public ownership.

No. Historic Wagner Farm is a working and interpretive farm, not a petting zoo or animal sanctuary.

Visitor interaction with animals is limited to protect animal health and ensure safety. The Farm’s focus is education, observation and interpretation rather than hands-on animal handling.

Visitors can expect to see agriculture in action, including crops, livestock and daily farm operations. As a working farm, activities vary by season and reflect the realities of farming rather than staged demonstrations.

Visitors are encouraged to observe, ask questions and learn about how farms function, both historically and today.

A working and interpretive farm actively grows crops, maintains gardens and cares for livestock as part of daily operations. These activities allow visitors to learn how farming functioned historically and how agriculture operates today.

Historic Wagner Farm is a working farm, not a petting zoo or animal sanctuary.

Comparative agriculture is the Farm’s educational approach to teaching agriculture across time. Visitors learn about early 20th-century farming practices alongside modern agricultural methods, helping them understand how farming has changed over the past 100 years.

Comparative agriculture helps visitors understand why farms operate the way they do today. By comparing historic and modern practices, visitors gain insight into changes in technology, animal care, crop production and food systems.

Historic Wagner Farm grows crops and maintains gardens as part of its agricultural programming, but it is not operated as a commercial produce farm.

The Farm’s primary purpose is education and interpretation. Crop production, livestock and dairy operations are balanced to reflect historic farming practices and to support comparative agriculture, which helps visitors understand how different parts of a farm work together.

Animals are an essential part of agricultural education. Livestock help visitors learn about animal care, dairy farming and food production and how these practices have evolved over time. It is important to note that Historic Wagner Farm is a working farm, not a pettings zoo or animal sanctuary.

Historic Wagner Farm raises a variety of livestock that support agricultural education and historic interpretation. Livestock support agriculture education, historic interpretation and foodways programming. Year-round livestock includes cattle, horses and chickens. Hogs and lambs are typically brought in seasonally.

Animal care and wellbeing are central to Farm operations.

Animals receive daily care from trained staff and supervised volunteers, veterinary care as needed and are managed using established agricultural and animal care standards. Visitor interaction is limited to protect animal health and safety.

No. Animals are not slaughtered at Historic Wagner Farm, and the Glenview Park District does not conduct slaughter activities.

Yes. As part of operating a working farm, Historic Wagner Farm sends some animals to auction. Once animals are sold, the Glenview Park District does not control or direct what happens to them. The Park District does not determine outcomes after an animal is sold.

Decisions on where and when animals are moved to another location are made on a case-by-case basis and consider factors beyond milk production, including each animal’s health, temperament and role in programs and education.

The Glenview Clovers 4-H Club operates at Historic Wagner Farm as an independent youth organization that teaches responsibility, leadership and civic engagement through agriculture and livestock projects.

4-H programs at the Farm focus on education, skill development and responsible animal care.

Dairy farming has long been part of Historic Wagner Farm’s educational focus. Dairy programs help demonstrate farming practices from the early 20th century and allow visitors to compare historic and modern dairy operations.

No. The Park District has described the milking equipment project as capital replacement of aging equipment. The purpose is to support education and demonstrations.

The equipment replacement does not authorize milk bottling, pasteurization or retail milk sales.

Historic Wagner Farm is primarily funded through property tax revenue approved by Glenview voters, along with program fees, partnerships and other Park District resources.

Yes. The public can purchase certain items produced at Historic Wagner Farm, such as produce or other farm-related goods, when available.

These offerings support the Farm’s educational mission. Availability varies by season and programming and is not intended to function as large-scale commercial production.

Historic Wagner Farm has supported community partnerships, including donations of produce and eggs when available. Availability varies based on season, programming and partnerships.