Guide: Fall Farm Visits

Written with sticky cider donut fingers by Rose.

As the calendar creeps closer to fall each year, I begin dreaming of when my husband's golf hobby will be put back on the shelf till spring. But until snow falls, I still have many fall weekends to entertain the kids all of my own. Now when you live in suburbia, nothing quite says "fall" more than a trip to the Apple Orchard or Pumpkin Patch... even if it is still 80 degrees outside. I have to tell you, these visits were a lot easier before everyone was trying to get the "perfect family photo" for their social media. Which is why I thought it would be helpful to write a guide for navigating these visits and not being one of those moms.

How Did These Places Suddenly Pop Up EVERYWHERE?

Growing up, there weren't many options for farm visits. It seemed everyone in my pretty large city went to the same Apple Orchard and Pumpkin Patch. So, about 10-years ago when my oldest was about 3, we began these annual pilgrimages ourselves. And we would drive the hour+ ride to the orchard both my husband and I grew up going to. At that point, not much had changed.

Then COVID happened.

Suddenly, there were so many options being advertised to parents desperate to get out of the house to DO something. Berry picking in the summer. Sunflower farms in late summer. Then into apples early fall. And then onto pumpkins in October. (We'll cover Christmas Tree and Reindeer Farms in a future post!)

Its not like these places didn't exist prior to COVID. Its just that now these farm visits were no longer about just a wagon ride and picking apples off of a tree. They were a whole experience. And kudos to the farmers that figured out adding some play equipment and pony rides to your property meant that people would pay to harvest your crop for you.

But it means you have to plan ahead prior to making the trek out to your farm attractions this fall. Here are somethings to consider:

What type of experience are you looking for?

I've found there are a few types of experiences available.

• Good, old fashioned farm - These are usually advertised as "Pick Your Own". These places often don't charge a cover price to get in. You'll pay for whatever you pick out of the field, and there usually aren't many additional features to these locations. They may sell some local goods (think: Jams, Jellies, Breads), but that's about it. And they may have a wagon ride, depending on which fields they're picking out of that day. For our family, this is the experience I love for a Berry farm. We usually go and pick our own strawberries.
  

• Elevated Farm - These farms were probably, at one point, a good, old fashioned farm. Now they've focused on their primary crop (Apples, Sunflowers, Pumpkins) and tried to make a family farm experience. You may pay a cover charge at one of these, but it will get you access to some kid friendly experiences (pony rides, barrel train, corn maze, playground equipment, petting zoo). You can still go pick your own crop, or they have a converted barn where you can purchase pre-picked, plus other local crafts and goodies. These are the places that usually serve up the fresh, hot cider donuts. This is the type of experience the kids and I usually seek out.

• Commercial Operation - Finally, there are places that are a full commercial operation. In Chicagoland, these places are usually not even in the country. They're in a suburb (which probably feels like the country to a city-dweller) and are open to serve multiple seasons. This means they ship in their apples or pumpkins. The crop is really secondary at these places. Instead, they focus on charging a fee to enter and your kids getting to play in bounce-houses, ride on camels, and get access to carnival type rides. These will have food vendors, music... and a place to buy an overpriced pumpkin. You can tell by my language, I'm not a huge fan of these situations.

What should I bring with to a Farm?

After many years of visiting these places, I have definitely scaled back what I bring along. Ultimately, you'll do ALOT of walking no matter which experience you select. So bringing just the essentials will make your visit much more enjoyable. Here are some things to think through:

• Stroller: Optional. These farms are made for kids to run around. So bringing your stroller will only be necessary if you have a baby-in-tow or if the trip will be over someone's nap time. However, if you bring one, make sure you bring along your stroller that traverses best over bumpy ground and gravel. Umbrella strollers tend to struggle at these places. They are farms, after all, and smooth paved surfaces aren't abundant.

• Hats, Sunglasses, Sunscreen: A must on sunny or overcast days. Especially if you are going to do any pick-your-own. There is no shade in the middle of a field, and very little in an orchard. Even on a cooler fall day or an overcast one, the sun can really take its toll.

• Sh*t Kicker Shoes: Yup, I said it. Please - for the love of God - don't wear your cute fall boots on these trips. Or your Wellies (PSA: You're not on a British Farm). Wear shoes that can get dirty and muddy, and that you won't break an ankle in. Unless you're going to one of the Commercial Operations, you're on a farm. Farmers wear cruddy shoes (aka "Sh*t Kickers) that can get gross.

What should I NOT do?

The fun can be abundant at these farms. But there are also many ways to spoil that fun.

• Be the picture obsessed person: Listen, I have a pointy point of view on this one. Please PLEASE don't spend the entire time taking pictures. I'm not talking about candids. I'm specifically calling out posing everywhere. These farms are super fun, but it is alarming how many angry, upset children and parents there are at these farms because of the absurd amount of posing being done. INSTEAD: Pick one place to take a picture each year. When you make this a family tradition each year, take the same picture, in the same spot and enjoy watching your children grow through the years. Those will become the cherished memories, not you smelling a sunflower with seven filters applied.
  

• Get sucked into buying mass produced junk: There are many things to purchase at these places - especially at the commercial operations. But so much of it is mass produced and could be purchased at a box store or grocery store for a much lower price. Before you engage in the retail mark up game, have a discerning eye. INSTEAD: Look for the local goods. From food to crafts, they are there. We're so close to Wisconsin that we always walk away with fresh sausage and cheese curds. I'll pick up other locally sourced produce as well to use in that week's dinners. And the kids always love some locally baked goodies and pies. So put the cheesy mass-produced apple-craft home décor down, and support local.

• Be upset about dirt, bugs and smells: Does this need an explanation? Again, you're at a farm. You will get dirty. There will be bugs. And animals smell. If these are things that aren't your speed, then perhaps pick a different activity.

In the end, these can be great places to kill a few hours as a family. But there is a reason that there has been a rise in TikTok videos making fun of mom's at farms: its easy to go overboard. But don't worry, there's no reason to put the pressure on yourself to be a farm influencer to visit. Instead, pop on your favorite kid-friendly podcast, grab a cup of coffee and take a nice drive into the country for the day. You won't regret it!