27AL2393 Kishwaukee River SNA- Shabbona Farm Lease

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is proceeding with a sole-source agricultural lease award to Jason Yakey for approximately 29.80 acres at Kishwaukee River State Natural Area–Shabbona Lake Farm (Contract 27AL2393), with a public hearing scheduled for October 16, 2026 at 2:00 PM via WebEx and an anticipated award date of October 21, 2026. The sole-source method is authorized under Administrative Code Title 17, Chapter 1, Part 150, Section 150.20(c)(3), which permits IDNR to negotiate agricultural management leases of 50 acres or less without competitive bidding. The hearing will be cancelled unless written comments or a written request for public hearing is submitted by 4:00 PM on October 16.

The lease runs five years from March 1, 2027 through February 28, 2032 with no renewal options. The lessee is required to provide all labor, machinery, tools, seed, fertilizer, and equipment to conduct farming operations in accordance with IDNR requirements and best management practices that promote soil health, minimize erosion, and improve water quality to benefit wildlife populations and habitats.

The estimated contract value is $134,800.32 over the five-year term. The state will receive an estimated $7,450.00 in revenue; the vendor will receive $127,350.32. Yakey held the prior lease (Contract 23AL2393) from 2023–2027 and an earlier lease (Contract 19AL2393) from 2019–2023, each valued at $5,960 for four-year terms at $50.00 per acre annually. The State Purchasing Officer approved the sole-source justification on August 18, 2026. The property is located in DeKalb County. Interested parties may present testimony at the hearing or submit written comments, which carry equal weight.