In 1961, two people with extraordinary vision opened a pet store on Chicago's State Street. What was extraordinary about these two individuals was that they employed twelve adults with developmental disabilities to wait on customers, manage inventory, and care for the animals.

Co-Founders Bob Terese and Corinne Owen felt strongly that people with developmental disabilities deserved to lead meaningful and productive lives, and they put their own beliefs into practice by opening a business that would help them achieve this goal.

During the State Street years, The Lambs received support and growing recognition for its mission from the Chicago community-at-large. Individual donors, as well as corporate and foundation supporters, heralded the work of Bob and Corinne, recognizing that the Lambs Pet Shop was not only providing employment opportunities and a sense of community for participants, but was becoming a model program as well.

In 1965, Bob and Corinne moved their efforts to Libertyville, Illinois, 45 miles north of Chicago, when philanthropist W. Clement Stone donated his 70-acre farm for the program's expansion. With the additional space and restoration of a century-old barn into one of Lake County's largest pet stores, more adults with developmental disabilities entered the program, which soon became known as Lambs Farm.

Today, Lambs Farm is a premier facility in the United States for individuals with developmental disabilities, providing more than 250 participants with comprehensive residential, vocational and social support services, and welcoming more than 300,000 visitors each year to shop in our businesses and interact with our Program Participants. In coming to Lambs Farm, we hope visitors gain greater awareness of people with developmental disabilities, and further recognize their potential as full members of the community, the workplace and society at large.