A brief history of Susanna Farms
and of the Heffernan's and the O'Bryan's.

Susanna Farms began in the 1930's when SJ O'Bryan and his wife May purchased 300 acres of land in Northern Illinois. In homage to thier respective mothers (SJ's being Susan and May's being Anna) the couple decided to name their new farm Susanna Farms. The farm soon became a refuge from their busy life in Chicago with five daughters and a thriving business in O'Bryan Brothers Lingere. SJ found solace in working the land, which reminded him of where he grew up in Kentucky.

The summers spent on the farm made an impression on his daughters and on their children. Prior to his death he parceled out much of the land and gave 50 acre plots to each of his five daughters. Today’s Susanna Farms is operated by Betty and Dan Heffernan and their children. Betty, the second oldest of SJ’s daughters has long sought to have a way for the land on which she has lived since the 1970’s and where she spent her early childhood riding and working could remain a “working” farm and maintain its open space charm.

Many of the Heffernan children and grandchildren come to help plant and maintain the pumpkin fields or to work the Fall Festival during weekends in October.

Please join the Heffernan’s in celebration of SJ O’Bryan and the original Susanna Farms by enjoying the bounty of the land and in being a steward of all open space, which is so precious to us all.