How to bid on the Shabbona Lake farm lease for Illinois DNR

What Illinois DNR is leasing

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is seeking bids for a farm lease covering approximately 119.90 acres at Shabbona Lake State Park in DeKalb County. The lease is for agricultural purposes during crop year 2027.

The estimated annual value to the state is $12,349.70, based on 119.90 acres at $103 per acre. The estimated annual value to the vendor is $116,035.01. These are estimates; review the bid documents for the lease details.

Deadline and submission timing

Bids are due November 18, 2026, at 2:00 PM ET. Submit before the deadline and follow the submission directions in the bid documents.

Who this opportunity may suit

This lease may suit agricultural businesses or farm operators interested in crop production on state-owned land. The relevant category is food and agriculture.

Check the Invitation for Bid for detailed locations, acreage information, and the terms that will determine whether the lease fits your operation.

How to access and respond

Open the bid’s detail page through “View original source.” The page is public and does not require sign-in to view, and the bid documents are listed there.

To quote electronically, register a free vendor account on Illinois BidBuy. If you do not submit electronically, follow the submission directions in the bid documents.

Prepare a careful farm lease bid

Read the full Invitation for Bid, including the parcel locations and acreage, before deciding what to offer. Confirm that the acreage and lease terms work for your planned crop-year operations.

Check how the bid asks you to state your unit cost and total value per acre. Review your figures and submission method, and leave time to complete any required portal steps before the deadline.