ORANGEVILLE — A Sunday Funday event at Mil-R-Mor Farm is scheduled for Sept. 14 for a one-of-a-kind experience called COWmunity Cares — Farm Fun Day Benefit for the Tessendorf Family. Part fun, part educational, and all for a good cause, the public is invited to explore a working dairy farm in support of the family of a long-time farm employee.
Attendees can expect a fun afternoon for all ages while touring the farm, playing farm-themed games, getting up close with the farm animals in a petting zoo area, and enjoying live music from the band Wildflowers and Whiskey. There will be hayrides to and from the parking area and tons of great photo opportunities! There will also be a “Chat with a Farmer Challenge” to encourage people to learn more about dairy farming in order to win prizes.
Tickets will be $10/person or $50/family and include an ice cream sandwich, compliments of Berner Foods. We will also be selling pints of Prairie Farms premium ice cream and flavored milks alongside some decadent baked goods. Additionally, there will be a silent auction with items donated by community members and area businesses. Those who wish to do so will also be able to make additional donations to the Tessendorf family at various points around the farm.
Troy Tessendorf started experiencing back pain in mid-January 2025. It kept getting worse and doctors were unable to figure out why. Troy ended up in the emergency department on Feb. 3, and by Feb. 4, he was unresponsive and had to be intubated and sedated. That night, he was flown by helicopter to the University of Iowa hospital in Iowa City. After extensive testing, scans showed lesions on his brain and spine caused by bacteria in his blood stream originating from a bad tooth. The lesions caused swelling on his spinal cord, causing him to lose the use of his limbs from his shoulders down.
After 156 days in the hospital, Troy was finally able to go back home on July 8. While Troy is doing much better compared to six months ago, he is still fully quadriplegic and requires 24/7 care, which his wife Beth is providing. Insurance is thankfully covering a lot of his medical expenses, so the family’s greatest need right now is funds to go toward converting their family vehicle to transport him. In the meantime, funds to help pay for transportation to doctors’ appointments and to help keep up with the monthly bills are also a continued need.
Troy and Beth currently live in Hillsdale with their daughters Autumn, 11, and April, 7. Beth (Bastian) is a native of rural Stephenson County and several of her family members currently work or have worked in dairy farming, including Mil-R-Mor herdsperson Jenny Weier. Troy has also worked in agriculture. One of his favorite jobs before his infection was setting up landscaping for displays at the Farm Progress Show each year.
Tickets may be purchased in advance at https://givebutter.com/c/cowmunitycares or with cash at the door. Some seating will be available, but guests may also want to bring a favorite lawn chair for a guaranteed seat. The farm is located at 765 E Rock Grove Road, Orangeville, IL, and is on the south side of the road. Parking will be directly to the west of the farm. In the event of excessively rainy or muddy conditions, parking and a shuttle will be available from the Orangeville Jr/Sr High School. For more information, follow the Cowmunity Cares — Farm Farm Day Benefit event page on Facebook.
Mil-R-Mor Farm is a multigenerational family farm located in Stephenson County, Ill. The farm milks 55 Holstein and Brown Swiss cows twice each day in a traditional tie stall/pasture facility. The family focuses on genetic advancement, soil fertility, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration as tools to be a responsible steward of the land. They also have a strong concentration on maintaining herd health and producing high-quality, nutrient-dense milk for Prairie Farms Cooperative.
