Mulberry Lane Farm is a “family business” in all senses of the phrase.
Founded by Patrick and Bonnie Keyes with Patrick’s mother, Coni, the year-round staff includes other family members as well. But beyond that, the business draws families and students to learn up close about farm animals.
“What makes us unique and different is that we refer to ourselves as a petting farm, not a petting zoo. Zoo implies that you are outside the pen looking in,” says Bonnie Keyes. “You’re going to be able to catch a chicken, pet a pig, feel the cowhide, milk the cow, cuddle the kitten or baby bunny. It’s very interactive and hands-on so children can learn where their eggs come from and where their milk comes from.”
Bonnie says Mulberry Lane Farm’s origin ties together two families — the Keyes family, which has operated a loosely affiliated group of petting farms since Patrick Keyes and his 12 siblings were growing up, and the Schwabenlander family, which homesteaded in Calumet County between Hilbert and Sherwood.
Growing up, Patrick and his siblings helped at Green Meadows Farm, which was run by their parents in southern Wisconsin. They all went on to college and other pursuits, but some started drifting back to the country and the family business.
Patrick and Bonnie founded Keyes Custom Home Improvements in the Appleton area, and Patrick took an interest in lumber production as a sawyer. He learned of a sawmill being operated in rural Calumet County and met Norb and Harry Schwabenlander, who were farming and producing lumber on their property.
Over the years, he became close to the brothers and yearned for an opportunity to return to his more rural roots. Bonnie said after the brothers died (one while working in the field and the other in the house where he was born), the Schwabenlander farm came up for sale.
The Keyeses purchased the 125-acre property in 2005 with the intent of opening a petting farm. The first fall, they drew 507 families and 3,200 people as part of tour groups.
Today, the farm draws 54,000 guests annually. This includes school field trips, club and summer camp visitors, and families. In addition, Mulberry Lane Farm hosts weddings in its 150-year-old barn and throughout the grounds, which increases the visitor total by a few thousand annually.
“When we opened, our mission was to educate school children about farm animals and farming in general, so our target was school field trips,” Bonnie says.
While the field trips are guided, often by retired teachers and stay-at-home parents, the family visits on weekends are self-guided.
Families are free to bring in food for picnics and can visit the various animal enclosures at their own pace.
“It’s not unusual for families to come, visit with the animals, take a break in the picnic area/play area, relax, enjoy themselves and go back and visit the animals a little later,” Bonnie says.
At the height of the season, there will be 300 animals and 30 employees. Busy weekends will feature a food truck. In addition to the first few weekends in May, the farm is busy in the fall, when admission comes with a free pumpkin that families can pick out themselves after a hay wagon ride to the field.
Bonnie says there has been growing interest among young people, and visitors have included teenagers on dates and people just looking to get out of their apartments.
“The current young family is looking for an experience,” she says.
