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| Cool mural of everyone who works at the farm |
Yippee! We finally got a chance to tour
Shamrock Farms! Shamrock Farms is a dairy farm just southeast of Phoenix. Arizona dairy farms are infamous for their well... unique aroma all over the valley of the sun. There's not a friend or family member who doesn't comment on how it smells whenever they visit since we have one just across the road and down the street from where we live. It's something you can't forget or get away from completely because there are so many dairy farms in the area. And, while there are many dairy farms near us, Shamrock Farms gives a tour of their outfit and allows you to see firsthand how a dairy farm actually works. Our family had an amazing time there. It's quite a ways away as we live in the west valley, but it's well worth the drive. Here are some things that are nice to know before you go:
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| Puzzle fixing while waiting for the tram to arrive |
There is a discount tour for
school groups and homeschools are included. The key is you have to make a reservation.
You can fill out the reservation form and do everything online. You'll get a confirmation email and you must pay attention to the day and time given for your visit. In our case I wanted a certain day, but they gave me a different one. I didn't catch that and showed up on the day I requested. We almost ended up missing the tour, but they were gracious enough to let us tag along with the school group that was there. This is only because the group was small enough to fit us. Had it been larger we would've been out of luck and out of a huge amount of gas and a lot of time. Don't make this mistake. It's a true farm and there's nothing commercial for miles around.
- Use the lessons provided on the website after you're confirmed to go. They will set a purpose for the tour and solidify what your kids learn during the tour.
- Arrive earlier so you can eat lunch before the tour begins. I recommend bringing a sack lunch but there is food available there if you would rather go that route. By bringing a lunch you make sure any dietary needs your children may have are going to be met. *If you opt for ice cream with your tour (and trust me, you should) it will be served right after lunch.
- Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. While a tram is the mode of movement throughout most of the tour there are times when you'll get out and walk, including a trek up narrow, steep stairs. Also, even though the farm tours are closed during the worst, hottest AZ weater, you'll want to wear loose, breathable clothing even if you are there in spring or autumn when the sun is still brilliant. And, as always, use sunscreen since most of the tour is out in the open.
- Bring wet wipes. You're at a dairy farm and there will be many instances where you'll wish you had them if you don't bring them along.
- There's a neat gift shop with all sorts of fun souvenirs. I was delightfully surprised to see that the selection includes kid-appropriate merchandise at reasonable prices. I don't buy from gift shops when they don't have this characteristic. This time we took away a bag full.
- Use this link for more info: Shamrock Farms Tour Info Page
- They operate year - round, but the tours are only available from October through May.
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| Simulation of milking a cow |
This is a great tour. The participants learn how a dairy farm works. They can actually see the production process as the farmers work in all the aspects of a running farm to keep the cows healthy and the milk they make fresh. A funny film is provided for you see what goes on the behind the scenes once the milk has been cooled and delivered to the factory where the final steps take place to bring us our favorite dairy products like ice cream, chocolate milk, cottage cheese, and sour cream. Our family will think of the dairy farms we pass by all the time quite differently now that we know the basics of how they work. We also find ourselves thinking about what we learned when we see dairy products at the grocery store. This tour is definitely worth it. If you are creating your field trip plan for next year be sure to add Shamrock Farms to your list of worthy learning experiences.
