Susanna Farms began in the 1930s when SJ OʼBryan and his wife, May, purchase 300 acres of land in Northern Illinois. In homage to their 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 Lingerie. 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. Todayʼs Susanna Farms is operated by Betty and Dan Heffernan and their eleven children. Betty, the second oldest of SJʼs 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, to remain a “working” farm and maintain its open space charm.