Jessica Lambert

Most real estate companies pick a side. They focus on city homes or on land. Very few truly understand both. At LandGuys, we bridge that gap and bring both worlds together. Our team helps people buy and sell rural homes and land with confidence, revealing each property’s story and value along the way. Every LandGuys broker and agent is a licensed REALTOR® trained to handle every step of the process, from pricing and financing to surveys, soil maps, and septic inspections. Our agents also undergo yearly training to stay current with new and improved processes, ensuring that clients benefit from the latest tools, marketing techniques, and compliance standards. Whether it is a home on acreage, a recreational property, or a working farm, our agents know how to bring listings to life and connect them with the right buyers. They are familiar with what buyers are looking for in homes and understand the unique considerations that come with rural living, from well and septic systems to access, zoning, and maintenance. In every state we serve, clients choose LandGuys because we understand the lifestyle and value that come with rural living. “Danny sold my house in as little as 20 days and got so much more than I could have imagined. He made the experience easy and I could not be happier with the outcome.” — Sarah, Iowa FEW COMPANIES BRIDGE BOTH WORLDS LIKE WE DO LandGuys combines the best of residential and rural real estate. Our agents help clients with homes on acreage, country homes, farmland, and recreational properties. As a result, we understand both sides of every transaction. Every Great Real Estate Agent Should Know What LandGuys Agents Also Bring MLS exposure through Zillow, Realtor.com, Trulia, and Homes.com. Expanded land marketing through LandWatch, Lands of America, Land and Farm, and AcreValue. Buyer financing, pricing strategy, and marketing. Soil maps, tillable acres, habitat, and crop productivity valuation. Staging, photography, and property presentation. Drone footage, mapping, and showcasing topography and access. Inspections, appraisals, title coordination, and closing. Surveys, easements, zoning, well, and septic understanding. Neighborhood, community, and lifestyle insights. Land and wildlife management, recreational setup, and agricultural investment knowledge. Communication, negotiation, and client guidance. Real-world experience from backgrounds in farming, construction, and wildlife management. Many properties do not fit neatly into one category. For example, a property may include both a home and productive land. These are exactly the types of listings where our expertise shines. “We worked with Justin and Luke to sell our home on 45 acres. Their expertise in valuing both the home and the land made all the difference. They respected our goals and helped us achieve them. The property sold in five days.” — Stef, Wisconsin REACH THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE LandGuys is more than a brokerage. It is a connected network of agents working together across Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Kansas. Each day, we share listings, leads, and market insights. This collaboration gives our clients more exposure than smaller local offices or large, cookie-cutter corporate brokerages can provide. In addition, our website and social media network generate more than a million impressions each month. Through property videos, digital ads, drone footage, and agent features, our media consistently stands out and sells. Clients often say they feel like they have already toured a property before stepping foot on it, and that is exactly our goal. Furthermore, we tell each property’s story with care. Every photo, video, and description is crafted to show not only what the land looks like, but how it feels. That storytelling helps buyers connect emotionally and builds trust before they ever visit in person. “I could not be happier with my experience working with LandGuys. I listed my 60-acre property with a small cabin, and within three days we had a serious buyer at full asking price. Their marketing captured the property’s unique appeal perfectly.” — Adam, Illinois THE LANDGUYS DIFFERENCE Our strength comes from real-world experience. Many of our agents have backgrounds in septic systems, electrical work, home building, land management, investment, house flipping, rental properties, and even legal and title work. Because of this, we offer advice that goes far beyond standard real estate. We know the process from contract, inspections, and repairs all the way through closing, and we are committed to guiding clients through each step with clarity and care. This experience allows us to give clients insights that are both practical and trustworthy. We understand how land and homes are built, maintained, and valued because we have worked in those fields ourselves. Our clients can move forward with confidence knowing they are working with people who truly understand every layer of the process. We do not just list properties. Instead, we tell their stories. We help buyers see the value in every acre, every tree line, and every front porch view. “Andrew helped my husband and I list and sell our beautiful home. He did everything in a timely manner, handled everything and got our house sold in a week! Easy guy to talk to, lovely to work with and easy to get ahold of!” — Katie, Illinois THE BOTTOM LINE LandGuys is one of the few real estate companies that can truly say we are experts in both rural and residential real estate. Whether it is a home on acreage, a recreational property, or a family farm, we know how to showcase its value and connect it with the right buyer. We help people buy and sell rural homes and land with confidence, revealing each property’s story and value along the way. Talk to a LandGuys Agent Today Find the right partner for your next move at LandGuys.com.

What does it really mean to live with purpose? For Chase Burns, purpose ties deeply into faith, family, and the land he works each day. In this episode of Every Acre Tells a Story™, Chase invites viewers into his daily life. His family lives on a working homestead, where values are reflected in every chore, sunrise, and decision. Faith as a Foundation Chase lives with intention. For him, life is not just about landownership. It is about honoring God's purpose for his life and using the land to glorify that calling. "Living with purpose to me is living for God's purpose for my life. Being a person of faith, we have a guiding light, and how we use our land is just daily asking for what His will is and looking for opportunities to glorify Him." Each act of stewardship, from planting to tending animals, is part of his faith. He sees the land as a gift that requires action, care, and gratitude every day. The Homestead Life Homesteading, for the Burns family, is about more than rural living. In fact, it is a lifestyle rooted in connection. They care for animals, raise food, maintain an orchard, and pass these rhythms on to their children. "It's not just getting up to make your bed or brush your teeth. It's collecting eggs, feeding the horses, or moving hay for the cows. That teaches a lot of responsibility." These daily tasks are not simply chores. Instead, they are character-shaping experiences. The children are learning discipline, work ethic, and appreciation for where their food comes from. These values are passed down every morning and evening, through action and example. Life on the homestead follows the rhythm of the land. Each season brings new work and new lessons. Spring means preparing garden beds and helping calves take their first steps. Summer is filled with weeding, harvesting, and watching the orchard come alive. In fall, the family puts up food, splits wood, and finishes projects before the cold sets in. Winter slows things down, but there are still animals to care for and plans to make for the next growing season. For the Burns family, this is not about doing things the easy way. They intentionally choose a lifestyle that requires them to be hands-on and present. Whether they are making homemade jelly, stacking hay, or gathering eggs before school, every task builds a sense of ownership and pride in their children. Their home is not just where they live. It is where they grow, work, and belong together. Building Community Through the Mercantile In addition to their farm life, Chase and his wife, Jackie, restored a 112-year-old building in Viola, Illinois. Their goal was to create a small-town mercantile filled with local goods and a sense of connection. "Jackie had this idea of a sort of country store selling locally sourced products...beef, honey, chicken, eggs, produce. It just kept growing. We became that somebody who brought it to life." Today, Prairie Roads Mercantile features many items that come directly from their farm. For example, the beef is raised just eight miles down the road. The eggs are often collected that morning, and the honey is bottled from a nearby beekeeper. Customers can ask where an item came from and hear, "This came from our place this morning." The Mercantile was never just a business. Instead, it became a space where neighbors reconnect, producers feel valued, and children learn that what they grow has meaning. The building may be old, but its mission feels entirely new, reminding people that local food and community still matter. A Legacy That Lasts Chase grew up exploring the woods, running wild with a BB gun, and playing in creeks. He harvested his first deer on his grandmother’s farm. Now, he sees that same joy in his sons as they build forts, tend animals, and create memories outdoors. "Just as dear to me as my first deer is the memory of both of my boys harvesting their first deer here on this farm. It's a bond between people and the land that is hard to explain if you have not experienced it." This connection, Chase says, is what he hopes his children carry forward. Whether they own land someday or not, he wants them to value care, stewardship, and long-term vision. "It is not ours, it is just our turn. While you are a landowner, you are the caretaker. You are the person who is going to leave it better than you found it." That belief guides not just how they farm. It also shapes how they raise their kids, run a business, and build a legacy rooted in place and purpose. Final Thoughts Living with purpose on the land is not about perfection. Rather, it is about alignment. It is about waking up each day with clarity and a desire to leave things better than you found them. Chase Burns reminds us that the land tells a story, if we are willing to listen. And often, it tells us a little more about who we are in the process.

I Bought a Farm Instead of a Boat LandGuys Client Story | Every Acre Tells a Story™ I bought a farm instead of a boat—and that one choice completely changed how I spend time with my family, how I invest, and how I live. Mitch Biggs didn’t start out aiming to become a multi-state landowner. Initially, he just wanted a peaceful escape. However, what began as a personal search turned into a story of legacy, lifestyle, and lifelong relationships—thanks to the LandGuys team. Why I Bought a Farm Instead of a Boat “I was really looking for a place to get away and hunt,” Mitch recalls. “My son and I fish a couple days a week throughout the summer, and I’ll never get that time with him back. I wanted something we could do together in the winter too.” At first, the idea of buying a bigger boat seemed like the logical next step. But after thinking it through, Mitch realized he didn’t want something fleeting—he wanted something lasting. A boat offered fun for a season. Land offered purpose, investment potential, and unforgettable family time. That’s when he decided to buy a farm instead of a boat. From Boats to Backroads: A LandGuys Story Mitch first connected with Toby Stay, an experienced Illinois Land Broker with LandGuys. After selling a property in Virginia, he used a 1031 exchange to reinvest in land. At that point, Toby introduced him to Missouri-based LandGuys agent Dalton Hughes, who helped Mitch secure the right recreational property. Although the deals happened in different states with different brokers, the experience felt consistent. That seamlessness is what impressed Mitch most. "I’ve bought land before, but with them, I actually understood the potential of what I was buying," Mitch said. Through the process, Mitch came to see that LandGuys wasn’t like other brokerages. Their team didn’t just know land—they lived it. More Than a Deal: A Relationship Built Over Time Mitch has purchased land with LandGuys in both Illinois and Missouri. That repeat experience speaks to the trust he’s built with the team across state lines. “I think long term it’s a great investment,” Mitch shared. “They’re not making any more of it.” Now, years later, that connection continues. On a recent fishing trip in the Outer Banks, Mitch spent time with Jesse Stay—Toby’s son and Illinois LandGuys broker and Iowa and Missouri land agent—and his brother Tanner. They weren’t there to talk shop. They were there to fish, share stories, and spend time outdoors together. The same values that brought them together through land brought them together on the water. It’s a reminder that LandGuys brokers don’t just sell land—they live the lifestyle. And for Mitch, that makes all the difference. Legacy Over Luxury For Mitch, landownership wasn’t about adding another toy to the garage. Instead, it was about building something that would last. “There’s just something special about showing up and knowing you own that piece of ground—and it’s yours,” he said. Owning land gave Mitch something so valuable—it gave him a place where his family could grow and gather. “It’s something my family can enjoy forever,” Mitch said. “That’s what made it worth it.” Why LandGuys Was the Right Choice Mitch appreciated the consistency across locations. Despite working with multiple brokers across state lines, the brand experience never faltered. That’s because LandGuys isn’t just multi-state—it’s multi-generational. And that matters when you’re making a decision this important. Thinking About Land? Here’s Mitch’s Advice If you’re considering a big lifestyle purchase—a boat, a cabin, or a second home—Mitch’s story offers a different perspective. He was originally looking for something fun to do with his family during the winter months, and a boat was on the table. But instead, he chose land. “I almost bought a boat,” Mitch said. “But I bought a farm instead.” Looking back, he sees it as a lasting decision. “It’s something my family can enjoy forever,” he added. “There’s just something special about showing up and knowing that you own that piece of ground—and it’s yours.” Every acre tells a story™. Ready to start your own land story? Whether you're dreaming of a weekend retreat, a hunting property, or a long-term investment, our team is here to help.Contact LandGuys to take the first step.