Farm Tour on Facebook

There have been a variety of methods used to let you know about the Farm Tour on Saturday.  If you haven't already, click on the Boone County Farm Tour Facebook  page and stay up to date with the latest Farm Tour news. 

Schwenke Brothers Farm

Schwenke Brothers Farms is a row-crop and cow-calf operation nestled in southwestern Boone County on the Ohio River. On your visit you can see how a modern grain farming operation functions on a daily basis. Schwenke Brothers Farms received the Boone County Conservation District Cooperator Award in 1997 and has won many state and national corn and soybean production awards. While at the farm you can view growing crops and tour a grain handling facility. Limestone Farm Lawn Worksite will have a farm equipment display. 

Allow 30 minutes for your visit. 

 

SCHWENKE BROTHERS FARMS

4768 Beaver Road Union, KY 41091
859-801-6482

N 38.90023 W 84.79453

Potter's Ranch

Enjoy a hay ride tour of Potter's Ranch, a Christian wilderness retreat facility located on 460 acres along Gunpowder Creek with miles of walking and riding trails. The petting zoo will be open during the farm tour. This unique non-profit facility offers camps, workshops, retreats, seminars and recreational programs designed to be entertaining, relaxing and educational. Activities include High Ropes, team building, a rock climbing wall, zip line, canoes, paddle boats, trail rides and horse riding lessons. They also have a Therapeutic Riding Center for children and adults. 

Allow 60 - 90 minutes for your visit. 

POTTER’S RANCH

5194 Beaver Road Union, KY 41091
859-586-5475

www.pottersranch.org

N 38.90559 W 84.80921

Thistlehair Farm

Thistlehair Farm, Certified Naturally Grown, is a thriving, sustainable farm that embraces the principles of bio-dynamics, the method of using organic matter with no chemical fertilizers or pesticides to provide healthy, nutritiously dense fruits and vegetables for their family and customers. While visiting the farm, learn to produce the maximum amount of food using small plot intensive plantings, a perfect model for the home owner garden. Member of OAK, OEFFA, CNG and Kentucky Proud; making the connection of the land and its people since 1986. 

Allow 45 minutes for your visit. 

THISTLEHAIR FARM

10570 Big Bone Road Union, KY 41091
859-384-3317

N 38.91692 W 84.72079

Verona Vineyards

This family-owned business was established in 2004 to produce estate wines that are unique and distinguished in this area. The property is home to the George-Vest house, built in 1842. It is on the National Register of Historic places and is currently being renovated. The barn has been converted into a wine facility and tasting room so guests can see firsthand how the wines are made. During the farm tour, walk through the 3-acre vineyard and learn how to prune vines for maximum growth and ripeness, and visit the winery. 

Allow 30 – 45 minutes for your visit. 

Note that wheelchairs may not be able to travel in the vineyard. 

VERONA VINEYARDS, LLC

13815 Walton-Verona Road Verona, KY 41092
859-485-3544

www.veronavineyards.com

N 38.84218 W 84.63880

Wheelrim Alpacas

The farm has been in the family since 1977 and has raised tobacco, Kentucky Mountain Pleasure Walking horses, and Hereford cattle. They started raising alpacas in 2009 and are still raising cattle. They have been selling alpaca products such as sweaters, hats, and socks for over a year and host Alpaca Farm Days in September and Christmas at Wheelrim during the holiday season. During the farm tour you can learn more about raising alpacas and see knitting, soap making, and leather working throughout the day. 

Allow 30 – 120 minutes for your visit. 

WHEELRIM ALPACAS

2089 Stephenson Mill Road Verona, KY 41092
859-485-7360

www.facebook.com/wheelrimalpacas

Kinman Farms

This 150-acre farm has been owned and operated by the Kinman Family since 1946. On the farm you will find pastures of cattle, fields of pumpkins, tobacco, tomatoes, hay and greenhouses filled with beautiful flowers. 

The Farm Market was opened in 2002 to allow the public to buy directly from the farm, and the picnic area can be rented for special events. The farm hosts field trips for students to get a taste of country life and has a fall festival each year.

During the farm tour, you can take a hayride to see feed grain and vegetable crops, bee hives, and composting operations and visit the petting zoo. Visit the Farm Credit Services booth to learn more about their services and how they can help you! 

Allow 60 minutes for your visit. 

Click here to visit Kinman Farms website.

Kinman Farms
4175 Burlington Pike
Burlington, KY 41005
859-689-2682

N 39.01556 W 84.76485

Sandyland Acres

Sandyland Acres is well-known for its Haunted Hayride, Farmer’s Revenge Walk – and sweet corn! Over 25 acres of sweet corn are grown on this 140-acre farm. One of the few full-time farming operations in the county, it has been in the Stephenson family for over 50 years. 

During the farm tour you can take a wagon ride or walk to view the traditional farming operations – including tobacco grown in float beds and beef cattle production. Or you can preview the haunted barn, which is a part of this farm’s diversification to meet the challenges of keeping a farm in operation today. 

Allow 45 minutes for your visit.

Click here to learn more about the Haunted Hayride.

First Farm Inn Bed and Breakfast

First Farm Inn Bed and Breakfast, an 1870s-vintage German farm house, is set on 21 rolling acres in Northwestern Boone County. Two guest rooms are available year round and include access to the outdoor hot tub, rowing around or fishing in the farm ponds, and homemade breakfasts. 

Two-hour horseback riding sessions are available to those not staying at the bed and breakfast as well as conventional riding lessons. During the farm tour, visit the common areas of the renovated home, gather information on creating a bed and breakfast to preserve a family farm, play soccer with the dog, see the old barn, and learn about and practice balance and safety on horseback. 

Photo opportunities: Pose with the antique doctor’s buggy or 1960s vintage Massy Ferguson tractor, on the maple horse, the mountain pony swing, the porch swing. Ride the cowboy pony or unicorn or schedule a riding lesson. Attend a free seminar on the day of the farm tour at 11 a.m. & 2 p.m.: “When Whoa Isn’t Enough – Staying on Top Your Horse in a Crisis” 

Allow 30 – 60 minutes for your visit. Note: Steps up to the house. 

Click here for the First Farm Inn Website.

Sandy Run Stables - Tours on 6/30/12

At Sandy Run Stables in Hebron, there will be horse-drawn wagon rides and demonstrations of different types of riding styles. Visitors will learn what to look for in the show ring and more about the horse industry. They will also learn about the importance of the equine industry to Kentucky agriculture. Allow 90 – 120 minutes for your visit on Saturday, June 30th. This tour available 9:00 am to 1:00 pm only.  

Check out this link to learn more about Sandy Run Stables. 

McGlasson Farms

The roadside stand at this sixth-generation family farm opened in the 1960's to sell fresh fruits and vegetables grown on the farm.  See crops in the fields -- corn, beans, tomatoes, potatoes, apples and peaches.  Learn how these vegetables are grown, harvested and marketed.  Allow 30 minutes for this stop on the farm tour.

Visit http://www.mcglassonfarms.com  for more information.

Lon and Ginny McGlasson at the Roadside Market.

MCGLASSON FARMS

5832 River Road Hebron, KY 41048
859-689-5229

www.mcglassonfarms.com

N 39.09194 W 84.67371

Historic Dinsmore Homestead

Historic Dinsmore Homestead is one of the farms on the Boone County Farm Tour. Built in 1842 and owned by five generations of one family, the Dinsmore Homestead is now a museum and historic site. Visit a honey bee exhibit or see chair caning and weaving demonstrations from noon - 3:30 p.m. You can also hike the trails on the property. Note: The walk to the family cemetery is very steep and the second floor of the home is not wheelchair accessible.  Learn more via http://www.dinsmorefarm.org

For more information about other farms, visit http://www.BooneCountyFarmTour.com

HISTORIC DINSMORE HOMESTEAD

5656 Burlington Pike Burlington, KY 41005
859-586-6117

www.dinsmorefarm.org

N 39.00269 W 84.81267

Eagle Bend Alpacas

One of the 15 stops on the Boone County Farm Tour has recently been featured in both the Lexington Herald-Leader as well as the Kentucky Enquirer!  Eagle Bend Alpacas was covered in a story that appeared in the Kentucky Enquirer on May 29, page B3.  You can also view the Herald-Leader's Photo Gallery here: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/05/20/2189507/alpacas-galore.html#wgt=rcntmulti

Eagle Bend Alpacas joined the alpaca industry in June 2005. At this historic farm, you can view the alpacas and see demonstrations of heritage skills such as spinning and fiber processing, and visit the Fiber Studio gift shop. Note: Much of the property is not wheelchair accessible.

EAGLE BEND ALPACA FARM

7812 East Bend Road Burlington, KY 41005
859-586-5695

www.eaglebendalpacas.com

N 38.97798 W 84.74931

Broken M Farm

The Broken M Farm has been family owned and operated for many generations. Known to most people in the Boone County as Smiley face barn farm, the family produces hay and hundreds of hair sheep each year.

BROKEN M FARM

6979 East Bend Road Burlington, KY 41005
859-586-5892

N 39.00439 W 84.74804

Benton Family Farm

This 4th generation family farm was once a large cattle and tobacco farm.  Today they're open for others to learn about agriculture.  Visitors will enjoy a hayride, feed the animals, shear a sheep, milk a cow, fish, ride a horse or collect chicken eggs.  

Visit www.bentonfamilyfarm.com for more information.

BENTON FAMILY FARM

11896 Old Lexington Pike Walton, KY 41094
859-485-7000

N 38.89713 W 84.60330

"Taste of the Market" on June 30th

The Boone County Farmers Market has 50 member farms who sell fruits, vegetables, flowers and other items grown locally. On Saturday, June 30th from 10 am - 1 pm plan to attend "Taste of the Market" and view live farm equipment safety demonstrations.

BOONE COUNTY FARMERS MARKET

6028 Camp Ernst Road
Burlington, KY 41005
859-586-6101

N 39.01988 W 84.70094