There really is no place quite like a farm for a group event. Fresh air, friendly farmers, animal encounters, tasty produce and unique experiences and spaces add up to a memorable meeting, whether your attendees are taking a tour, hosting an event or partaking in one of the many other offerings at today’s top agriculture venues.
And when it comes to fun farm forays, the Midwest is truly outstanding in its fields, pun intended. Here’s a look at seven superb sites that would turn Old MacDonald green with envy.
Aamodt’s Apple Farm, Stillwater, Minn.
Open from early August to late December, Aamodt’s is only 30 miles from Minneapolis but a world removed, spread across 50 pastoral acres and exuding bucolic charm.
“An idyllic setting and convenient location make it a perfect destination for a day of fall fun,” says Chris Aamodt, third-generation owner of the family farm, adding that specific group doings can include pick-your-own-apples outings, haywagon rides and shopping at the Apple Barn, chock-full of tasty treasures ranging from fresh-picked apples to jams and baked goods. A goat farm adds yet another diversion, and plenty of tables are on hand for picnicking.
Aamodt’s also shares its acreage with a vineyard and winery, St. Croix Vineyards—a maker of award-winning regional wines—and the tasting room is just steps from the Apple Barn, for groups wanting more-adult enjoyment.
The venue is popular with all sorts of groups, from school outings to corporate visits, but those seeking serenity might aim for a weekday stop, as up to 20,000 guests can pop by on a busy peak season weekend.
Arbor Day Farm, Nebraska City, Neb.
A unique setting that is host to the popular 144-room Lied Lodge and Conference Center, Arbor Day Farm is a 260-acre national historic landmark that once served as the home to Arbor Day founder J. Sterling Morton. It’s fitting that much of the diversion here is thus centered on a fabulous Tree Adventure area that includes inviting hiking paths and a 50-foot-tall Treehouse Lookout.
The farm prides itself on offering diversions throughout the year. Summer fun, for example, can feature a wooded walk with an arborist while sipping Arbor Day Farm wine on the venue’s “Wine, Cheese, and a Walk Among the Trees” activity. Fall doings might include apple picking, hayrides, a corn maze and September’s lively AppleJack Festival. Winter brings Christmas-tree-seekers and evening carols, while spring showcases colorful blooms and a celebration of Arbor Day itself.
For a cool keepsake that attendees will have forever, seedlings are provided free to visitors to take home and plant. PageBreak
Meramec Farm, Bourbon, Mo.
A 470-acre bastion of unspoiled countryside and authentic farm life, Meramec farm is home to plenty of unstructured diversions and unfettered explorations. Guests can bring some fishing gear and go after trout in the Meramec River, take a “Cow Tour” that includes helping feed the creatures, or in warm weather go for a river swim.
Horseback riding is another popular activity here, and guests are allowed to bring their own four-legged transport or climb aboard one of the farm’s Missouri Fox Trotters, Tennessee Walkers or Peruvian Paso horses.
The outdoor oasis even has an intriguing history dating back to 1811, when the original owner, William Harrison, set down his roots here. Seven generations later, his family remains as owners. Another unique aspect of the farm is the presence of two handsome log cabins, one with the capacity to host two guests and the other hosting up to four, for smaller groups seeking lodging.
Black Star Farms, Suttons Bay, Mich.
A singular agricultural venue, Black Star Farms is about as elegant a farmland setting as you’ll ever see.
Its Inn at Black Star Farms boasts upscale lodgings that have proven popular for everything from corporate retreats to family celebrations. Meetings of all sizes are held here, and an especially alluring setting is a spacious colonnaded room that can host up to 140 for sit-down dining; two additional rooms and an outdoor patio are on hand for breakout sessions.
The venue also showcases winery production facilities with neighboring tasting rooms, a distillery and equestrian activities—all designed to host private events.
Groups lodging at the Inn at Black Star Farms can enjoy its 160 acres of orchards, forested paths and vineyards free to investigate—via hiking, biking, or even snowshoeing or skiing cross-country in winter.
Eight lushly appointed guest rooms add to the allure, and a heralded restaurant serves dinners Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays during the farm’s slower season between November and April.
Cinnamon Ridge Farm, Donahue, Iowa
Cinnamon Ridge Farm is a tried-and-true authentic working farm that handles everything from corn and wheat production to the raising of cows, pigs and chickens. Tours are offered year-round and include a look inside its robotic dairy—and can also be bolstered by a meal and/or live music.
A whimsical little store, dubbed the Country Cupboard, offers up baked goods and other products straight from the farm, and two event spaces make for interesting on-site possibilities. An event center can host up to 100 attendees for a dinner, which can be readied in a food prep area or catered, and an intimate dining room offers an inviting space for smaller groups.
“We offer a unique and educational experience for meetings and special events,” says proprietor Joan Maxwell. “Our farm demonstrates the use of technology while still showing Midwest family farm values as the entire family is involved in the farm to produce nutritious milk, cheese and yogurt.”PageBreak
Kelsay Farms, Whiteland, Ind.
A dynamic dairy farm merely 20 minutes’ drive south of Indianapolis, Kelsay Farms has been in the family for more than 175 years. Organized tours can be slated year-round, with the farm fully open to the public in the autumn, when corn mazes, hay rides and other fall fun is on the agenda.
For attendees tying family travel into a meeting, the venue is very child-friendly. Autumn activities include a corn maze, pumpkin bowling and even rides aboard a kiddie train known as the Moo-Choo Express.
Delectable dairy snacks are also on hand at Kelsay Farms, with tasty treats that include milkshakes, grilled cheese sandwiches and cheeseburgers.
Bonnybrook Farms, Clarksville, Ohio
Bonnybrook is a family-owned farm that organizes some unforgettable experiences for groups ranging from 25 people to 2,500.
Among their most popular offerings are a Chuck Wagon Dinner Ride that features a barbecue dinner at the Gathering Barn and an authentic chuck wagon ride to Todd Fork Creek, where attendees can roast s’mores around a roaring fire. Other fun includes a Lantern Light Wagon Ride, where a group becomes familiar with the trappers, Indians and settlers of the past, portrayed by seasoned theater actors.
Yet another group gathering can be an Old-Fashioned Picnic at the farm, with private access to the entire farm, ample seating indoors and alfresco, and even hayrides and a smokehouse barbecue.
“We pay close attention to detail with all events,” says proprietor Bonnie Mercuri. “The Chuck Wagon Dinner is served on enamelware and coffee in tin cups; and the Lantern Light Wagon Ride is a historically accurate family-friendly depiction of the 150-year anniversary of the Civil War in Ohio.”
Other diversions include a giant slingshot, a catch-and-release fishing pond and endless family fun that includes a petting barn and lengthy underground slide.
