Agritourism in the Greater Kansas City Area
Among the many reasons visitors and residents appreciate Kansas City is the outstanding agritourism industry. The list of gardens, farms and locally supported farm-to-table eateries seems endless. Here are a few notable stops for the agritourist in the KC area.
Shatto Milk Company Osborn, MO
Although the land on which Shatto Dairy Farm can be found today has been in the same family for three generations—since the late 1800s—the Shatto Milk Company local Kansas Citians have come to love was actually formed in 2003. Shatto’s milk is unique in that it is 100 percent produced from Shatto Farm’s cows, contains no recombinant bovine growth hormones (rbGH) and is delivered to stores in reusable glass bottles, which are far better for the environment than throw-away plastic bottles.
Shatto Milk Company offers tours Tuesday through Saturday throughout the year. These tours provide an educational and fun opportunity for families to learn about milk production, including the milking of cows and a tour of the processing plant. Guests may have the opportunity to feed a baby calf and always can sample many tasty treats made from Shatto milk. The tour costs $5/person (over 2 years old) and must be made by appointment. Contact Shatto Milk Company at 816.930.3862 or email at office@shattomilk.com.
Beanstalk Children’s Garden Kansas City, MO
The Leanna Flandermeyer Beanstalk Children’s Garden provides an excellent opportunity for kids to learn about growing food, insects, nutrition and plant science. Children will be able see, touch, smell and taste plants throughout six gardens: the vegetable garden, the fruit garden, the herb garden, the seed and grain garden, the curiosity garden and the water garden. Each garden presents a unique view of agriculture—from peanuts and popcorn in the seed and grain garden to fish and frogs in the water garden.
Between June and October, families can tour the gardens for free or enjoy a guided tour for $2/person. Email Beanstalk Children’s Garden at earlene@kccg.org to schedule a tour!
NE Kansas
Kaw Valley includes a vast area of Kansas, abundant in farms, gardens, country stores and wineries. Although this area’s most popular event is the fall Kaw Valley Farm Tour, many of the participating farms have summer hours for visitors to take tours and sample their delicious, locally grown products.
A popular venue for kids is Prairie City Miniature Horses in Baldwin City. Kids can see the mini horses and all the tricks they can do, as well as ride the Prairie City Tram. Visitors are encouraged to stop in at Country Road Farms for a sample of their all natural chicken, beef and
pork.
Another great option in the Kaw Valley area is Blossom Trail Bee Ranch. Kids love learning about bees and how vital they are to our environment. The tour includes viewing of beehives that draw on as many as five sources of nectar for distinct flavors of artisanal honey. This farm produces honey, beeswax, free-range eggs, peaches, blackberries, apples, onions and garlic.
And finally, a third recommendation from Kaw Valley is Henry’s Plant Farm, which houses 20 greenhouses full of a wide variety of plants. Here you will find vegetables, herbs, annuals, perennials and shrubs. Kids can have fun in the butterfly garden and morning glory tunnel and also visit the lambs, peacocks and alpaca.
And don’t forget to check out Kaw Valley’s wineries, including KC Wine Co., Crescent Moon Winery and Crooked Post Winery.
Green Dirt Farm Weston, MO
Green Dirt Farm is true to its name, as it was founded on the philosophy that good food (mainly good cheese) comes from good dirt. What does this mean? The farmers at Green Dirt Farm are committed to building healthy soil, which yields nutritious grass for their sheep to eat. And healthy sheep produce the best-tasting milk, which leads to the best-tasting cheese and yogurt. Green Dirt Farm also is committed to humane treatment of their sheep, who roam freely and are only fed the farm’s natural grass. Visitors will sample some of the best cheeses around at Green Dirt Farm. The farm will be hosting 14 cheese tasting events and 10 farm-to-table dinners, so
check out their website and plan a trip there this spring or summer!
Powell Gardens Kingsville, MO
Likely the best-known botanical garden in the Kansas City area, Powell Gardens is an important part of our local agritourism industry. Like other farms and gardens in this list, Powell Gardens—specifically the Heartland Harvest Garden—exemplifies the beautiful journey of food, from seed to plate. Tourists will walk through the garden, seeing (and sampling!) delicious fruits, such as apples, pears and peaches, learn about the origin of coffee beans and how chocolate is made, and tour the vineyard’s paths of luscious grapes. Children should stop at the Fun Foods Farm where they can dig for worms and play in Mr. McGregor’s garden, just like Peter Rabbit
did.
Powell Gardens is a place to visit multiple times, as there is so much to see and do. Don’t miss their big summer events: Booms & Blooms on July 2 and the Festival of Butterflies on Aug. 5-7 and 12-14.
Farmers Markets and Restaurants
Another delicious and healthy way to appreciate Kansas City’s agriculture is to visit any of our local farmers markets, where fresh meats, fruits and vegetables from local farms are sold. A comprehensive list of farmers markets can be found at http://www.kcparent.com/KC-Parent-Blogs/All-About-Kansas-City/Web-Exclusives-2016/Kansas-Citys-Farmers-Market-Guide/.
Greater Kansas City is also full of award-winning farm-to-table restaurants that proudly serve gourmet meals made with local products. A list of restaurants can be found at kcfoodcircle.org/restaurants/.
Whether you’re a resident and planning on staying for a while, or you’re in town visiting for a few days, the opportunities to enjoy Kansas City’s agriculture are abundant. Eat, drink and be fresh!
Karen Johnson is a local writer who loves exploring off-the-beaten-path places in the Midwest.