Kaw Valley Farm Tour showcasing farms throughout area
Matt Erickson
Several area farms will be participating in this year’s Kaw Valley Tour.
Roughly 30 farms will be part of this year’s tour, which will be Friday and Saturday. The tour always takes place the first full weekend in October.
The tour stretches northwest to the Lake Perry area, south to Baldwin City, east to the Basehor and Eudora areas and as far west as the Topeka area.
Tickets are $10 per carload and are good for both days. They can be purchased in Lawrence at The Merc Community Mercantile, 901 Iowa St.; Lawrence Visitors Information Center, 402 N. Second St.; K-State Research and Extension, Douglas County, 2110 Harper St.; Downtown Lawrence Farmers Market at Eighth and New Hampshire streets; and Cottin’s Hardware and Rental, 1832 Massachusetts St.
Tickets also may be purchased at participating farms during the tour and online through Paypal or at the tour’s website, kawvalleyfarmtour.org.
Here’s a list of farms on this year’s tour:
North of Kansas River
Amy’s Meats
17967 23rd St., Lawrence; 785-691-6251; amysmeats.com.
The business is open during the tour only. The farm has various pasture-raised meats, heirloom garden vegetables, gooseberries, blackberries and elderberries. Other products also are available.
Crooked Post Winery and Vineyard
7397 Kansas Hwy. 92, Ozawkie; 785-224-7959; crookedpostwinery.com.
The winery is open noon-6 p.m. Fridays through Sundays in the fall and winter.
Crooked Post Winery at Lake Perry is a new winery inspired by Italian architecture and style of wine. It also has a 900-square-foot event room.
Holy-Field Vineyard and Winery
18807 158th St., Basehor; 913-724-9463; facebook.com holyfieldwinery.com.
The oldest winery in the state offers walking tours, a tasting room and special events at the 16-acre winery and vineyard.
Hoyland Farm
1954 Union, Lawrence; 785-842-5697; rollingprairie.net.
The farm, open during the tour only, offers 69 acres of woods, pasture and ponds and 3 acres of vegetables and fruits. The farm uses several forms of renewable energy production.
Juniper Hills Farms
1547 North 2000 Road, Lawrence; 785-840-4892.
The first-generation farm started in 2006. The farm grows 5 acres of certified organic vegetables and nearly 900 acres of hay, alfalfa and small grains. It’s open during the tour only.
Kerby Pumpkin Patch
15943 158th St., Bonner Springs; 913-441-1766; kerbypumpkinpatch.com.
The farm offers pumpkins, hay rides and a corn maze. The farm is open through Oct. 31 for this year’s season. It’s regularly open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and noon-6 p.m. on Sundays during the season.
Lamborn Farm
25761 151st St., Leavenworth; 913-727-5666; lambornfarm.com.
The farm offers pumpkins, meats, fall decorations, gourds and straw bales. Beef is sold when available. The fifth-generation operation is open 4-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays and noon-5 p.m. Sundays September through November. Founded in 1877, it joined the National and State Register of Historic Places in 2012.
Manna Meadows
16842 Metro Ave., Bonner Springs; 913-461-5003; mannameadowsalpacas.com.
The farm started four years ago with nine alpacas. It now has 53. The farm is open during the tour and by appointment and offers alpaca products, as well as eggs and honey. Hayrack rides also will be offered, weather permitting
South of Kansas River
Ad Astra Alpacas
168 East 1700 Road, Baldwin City; 785-594-6767; adastraalpacas.com.
The alpaca farm is open 9 a.m.-noon Saturdays and Sundays 1-5 p.m. October-March, by appointment and during the tour.
The farm sells various alpaca products, such as socks, glvoes, hats, scarves and sweaters made from the animals’ fleece.
Blossom Trail Bee Ranch
669 East 2100 Road, Baldwin City; 785-615-1548.
The ranch, open during the tour and by appointment, offers honey, beeswax, free-range eggs, peaches, blackberries, apples, onions and garlic.
Bluejacket Crossing Vineyard and Winery
1969 North 1250 Road, Eudora; 785-542-1764; bluejacketwinery.com.
The winery, situated near the Oregon Trail, has picnic areas and offers a behind-the-scenes look at a working vineyard and winery. Regular hours are noon-6 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays and noon-6 p.m. Sundays. The winery also has a tasting room and gift shop.
Prairie City Minis/Raymond Crist Restoration
92 East 1600 Road, Baldwin City; 913-208-0392, 785-418-2770; deehay@centurylink.net.
The unique business has miniature horses and offers various vehicle restorations. It is open during the tour and by appointment.
Davenport Orchards, Vineyard and Winery
1394 East 1900 Road, Eudora; 785-542-2278; davenportwinery.com.
The business started in 1961 with fruit orchards and expanded to a vineyard in 1990. It has produced wine since 1997. It will have barbecue available for purchase during the tour. Regular hours are 4-7 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and 1-5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
Gieringers Orchard
39675 W. 183rd St., Edgerton; 913-893-9626; gieringersorchards.com.
Gieringers raises peaches, strawberries, blackberries, tomatoes, grafted tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and sweet corn. The family farm also does guided educational tours of more than 10 acres of fruit trees, as well as other produce.
The Henrys’ Plant Farm
248 North 1700 Road, Lecompton, 785-887-6344; thehenrysplantfarm.com.
The farm, in business more than 30 years, has plants available March-October, including fall mums and perennials, herbs and vegetables. Visitors can see a variety of livestock as well.
Iwig Family Dairy
3320 SE Tecumseh Road, Tecumseh; 785-224-0195
The farm dates back to 1910 and opened its dairy production in 2004. Milk, butter and ice cream are sold at the farm store, 9:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Mondays-Fridays and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays.
Marie’s Alpaca Acres
13130 S. Topeka Ave., Carbondale; 785-633-6902; mariesalpacaacres.
Alpaca clothing can be purchased at anytime at the business’ online store. The farm is open during the tour and by appointment.
Oz Highland Farm
9839 SW 89th St., Auburn; 785-256-7920, 785-213-1040; ozhighlandfarm.com.
Highland cattle are raised on the 600-acre farm, which dates back to the 1850s.
Pendleton’s Country Market
1446 East 1850 Road, Lawrence; 785-843-1409; pendletons.com.
Pumpkins, squash, mums, gourds, dried gourds and dried flowers are sold at the market, which is open daily.
Prairie Meadow Greenhouse
7321 SE 45th St., Tecumseh; 785-379-8849; prairie-meadow.com.
Open April through September and during the First Friday Art Walk from April through December in Topeka. Hay rides, vendors, music and barbecue concessions wil be available during the tour. An electric, solar-powered car will be on display as well.
Red Tractor Farm
974 E. 850th Road, Lawrence; 785-550-4906; theredtractorfarm.com.
Open during the tour only, the farm sells vegetables and herbs throughout the year and raises laying hens and Boer meat goats.
Shooting Star Equine
10527 SW Indian Hills, Wakarusa; 785-249-1760; shootngstarequinerescue.org.
The nonprofit organization offers rescue rehabilitation, placement and sanctuary to horses and other animals.
Vertacnik Orchard
1403 East 1850 Road, Lawrence; 785-842-4428.
Open weekends in September and October, the orchard features a roadside market and you-pick opportunities. Many apple varieies, as well as peaches and cider when available are sold.
Vesecky Family Farms
1814 North 600 Road, Baldwin City; 785-594-2493;
veseckyfamilyfarms.com.
The poultry farm has seasonal hours and includes chickens, turkeys, heritage turkeys, ducks and geese.
Washington Creek Lavender
858 Easr 800 Road, Lawrence; 785-748-0678; washingtoncreeklavender.com.
The farm features nearly 6,000 organic lavender plants and has a gift shop.
White Tail Run Winery
2327 North 400 Road, Edgerton; 913-893-6860; whitetailrunwinery.com.
The winery is open during the tour and regular hours Fridays through Sundays. A new tasting room opened earlier this year.
Woheltz Farm Fresh
1831 North 1100 Road;, Lawrence; 785-331-3468; wohletzfarmfresh.com.
The farm sells summer vegetables at the Lawrence Farmers’ Market. It also is open during the you-pick strawberry season.