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Agritourism Adventures in the Midwest

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Farming is an integral part of the economy for both Kansas and Missouri. You can learn about farming firsthand on a visit to one of these great sites.

Shatto Dairy

You may have tried their delicious milk varieties in the grocery store, but Shatto products taste even better when you buy them straight from the farm! This family-owned and operated farm is located less than an hour north of Kansas City in Osborn, MO. They have a full farm store open to the public and offer tours of their dairy operations on a regular basis.

On the tour, you’ll learn more about the dairy process, meet some of the calves, try your hand at milking a real cow and then sample a variety of their goods at the end of the tour! The tour is interactive and great for all ages. The store is full of Shatto merchandise, as well as a large variety of milks, cheeses, butters and more that you can take home. Visit their website for current information on tours and upcoming events: http://shattomilk.com/.

Ya Ya’s Alpaca Farm

If you’re a fan of fluffy farm animals, a tour of Ya Ya’s Alpaca farm is for you! During the 90-minute educational tour, you’ll learn more about how alpacas are raised and the variety of uses for their fleece. With a herd of more than 30 alpacas (including the baby alpacas born in 2020), Ya Ya’s gives you a chance to interact with alpacas up close and even feed them treats! Ya Ya’s also offers birthday parties and private events for an even more personalized alpaca experience. During your visit, you’ll be able to visit the store where, you can buy your own luxuriously soft alpaca socks, gloves and other items to take home with you!

Tours are offered seven days a week at three different times. The tour fee is $8/person. Visit their website for all the information needed to book a tour: https://www.yayasalpacafarm.com/.

Historic Weston Orchard

Picking apples and pumpkins is a fall right of passage, and you’ll be able to do both at the Weston Orchard! This 50-acre farm is open May to December for visitors to pick their own fresh produce. In the fall, they offer a pick-your-own pumpkin patch and one of the largest you-pick apple orchards in the Kansas City area! They also offer additional fall activities for kids on the farm like hayrides, a corn maze and a hay mountain. Their in-house bakery and store is definitely worth a stop as well. You can refuel with freshly made donuts (with different flavors each season), apple cider slushes pressed in house, pie, caramel apples and more. The adults in the group can enjoy a wine tasting from their variety of wines made from their own vineyards.The orchard is open from May to December for you-pick strawberries, cherries, peaches and blackberries, in addition to their fall offerings! Admission in the fall is $7/person (ages 2 and under are free), and fruit is paid for by the pound. They offer discounts during the week and family season pass options as well. Check out their website for all the details: https://www.orchardweston.com/.

Louisburg Cider Mill

The Louisburg Cider Mill first opened in the late 1970s as a roadside cider mill. Today, they’re a Kansas City fall staple, offering a wide variety of delicious locally sourced snacks and drinks, as well as fun for all ages.  The cider mill is open seven days a week, so you have time to explore their 10-acre corn maze (which has a fun new theme every year), pick your own pumpkin and explore the kids play area. They also offer guided or self-guided tours of the cider press, where you can see the apples pressed into cider, the bottling line, and the making of those famous apple cider donuts. Group and school tours are available.

If you’re looking to relax at the end of your visit, you can rent a private firepit (firewood included) for $40. For more information on everything the Cider Mill has to offer, visit them online: https://louisburgcidermill.com/.

Andrea Plunkett Ishmael loves going on adventures across the Midwest.

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