Once upon a time, we all knew how to grow at least a part of our food. Over the generations, most people have left the land and lost the skill to farm and ranch. Discover how amazing Missouri farmers are – and explore the variety of foods and products they grow, raise and produce: become an agritourist!
Shatto Milk Company
Visit Shatto Milk Company in Osborn in Northwest Missouri. They offer 90-minute tours of their dairy, bottling facility and farm by appointment. For a twist on the same theme, substitute sheep for cows at Green Dirt Farm in Weston. Their by-appointment tours take you from field to milking parlor to cheese kitchen. They also host farm-table dinners and cheese tasting events.
Sycamore Valley Farm Bed and Breakfast
A stay at the Sycamore Valley Farm Bed and Breakfast in Brunswick offers more than just a cozy place to sleep. You can play – fish, go on hayrides, do crafts – or climb on a tractor to help with the row crops and split wood for a nice fire, complete with roasted marshmallows and hot cocoa.
Cackle Hatchery
Years ago, many people raised chickens, and every town had a small hatchery. A tour of Cackle Hatchery in Lebanon is a rare treat, considering there are only about a dozen small hatcheries left in Missouri. And you get to see baby chicks. The best time to visit is March to September.
Alpaca Farms
When you’re planning your Show-Me State agritourism adventure, be sure to include a stop at one of our abundant alpaca operations: Ya Yas ‘s Alpaca Farm in Garden City (be sure to say hi to their guard llama, Ms. Manners), Hasselbring’s Harmony Ranch in Concordia and Big River Alpacas in Fletcher – just to name a few. You can enjoy those soft coats and adorable faces and learn about and shop for alpaca fiber products.
Other Missouri agritourism attractions:
- Hermann Farm, Hermann – tram tours and walking tours of 200-acre historic farm, old homestead with Shire draft horses and Missouri mules.
- Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company, Mansfield – pure, natural, non-GMO seeds for your own garden.
- Beggs Family Farm, Sikeston and Lloyd’s Pumpkin Patch, Ashland – seasonal farms featuring pumpkin patches, corn mazes, farm animals and more.
- Fulk Tree Farm, Platte City and Meier Horse Shoe Pines, Jackson – family-owned and -operated Christmas tree farms.
- Messner Bee Farm, Raytown – beekeeping in the Kansas City metro area, group tours, shop offering honey and beeswax products.
- Peters Orchard, Waverly – peaches and apples in season, and Schweizer Orchards, St. Joseph – pick your own fruit, farm tours and Christmas trees.
- Warm Springs Ranch, Boonville – see where the Budweiser Clydesdales all get their start.
- Long Row Lavender, Wright City – tours offered Wed.-Thu. by reservation only, for groups of 10 or more. Barn and gift store open Wed.–Sat., 10 a.m.-4 pm. In bloom June and September.
Visit an orchard, pick a pumpkin, indulge in a visit to a Missouri winery, treat yourself to a farm-to-table dinner. Agritourism doesn’t end on the farm; it’s just a place to start. Also check out Missouri Wineries and Farmers Markets.
Written by Barb Brueggeman