Annual farm tour set for Mother’s Day weekend

The tour is free and consists of 14 farm stops. The farm tour offers families an opportunity to spend time outdoors enjoying the more rural aspects of Miami County, according to the release.

Each site offers educational activities. Animals range from alpacas to Hereford cattle and bison. Most stops offer picnic and rest area amenities. Those on the lookout for the perfect photo should keep an eye out for selfie stations.

Returning to the tour this year is a digital scavenger hunt. Registration is free. Participants should look for the QR Code at each location or find it on the tour website, www.MiCoFarmTour.com. As visitors explore the farms, they will be asked to solve a clue leading them to identify something special at each location. By snapping a picture and uploading it to the app, families can enter for door prizes.

Weather plays a big role in the weekend, so visitors are encouraged to watch the forecast. Warmer weather may limit the activity level of some animals, so visitors may want to schedule those stops earlier in their day. Bees and other flying insects are important to nature’s cycle. Many of the farms intentionally feature plants that encourage pollination. Visitors with allergies are encouraged to be prepared.

Several stops will have products for sale that may require refrigeration, so participants are encouraged to bring a cooler. Products include cheese, pecans, fresh vegetables, honey, wine and several types of meat.

Parking areas will be designated at each stop. While parking is available at each site, please be aware that weather and terrain may create some physical challenges, organizers said.

Although this event is child friendly, each site is a working farm. Visitors are asked to encourage children to respect the farm’s operations, plants and animals. Visitors are also encouraged to leave pets at home, according to the release.

For more information about the farm tour, or to receive a map of the sites, call (913) 294-4045. The tour’s website, www.MICOFarmTour.com, features a map of the sites and information about their location.

The farms participating on the tour are:

Better Equine Ranch

29545 Pleasant Valley Road

Five Mile Farms

39485 New Lancaster Road

Grace Heritage Dairy

40681 Hedge Lane

Hill-Arius Acres

30842 Indianapolis Road

Isinglass Estate Winery

16241 W 381st St.

Little Farm on the Hill

500 State Hospital Drive

Madd House Hill

16030 W. 311th St.

Miami Purebred Herefords

36140 Victory Road

Nighthawk Winery & Vineyard

16381 W. 343rd St.

Prothe’s Pecans

33850 Victory Road

Silver Lining Herefords

8435 W 295th St.

Stonehaven Bison Ranch LLC

32846 Block Road

Timber View Farm Alpacas

14713 W 311th St.

Wildwood Outdoor Education Center

7095 W 399th St.