Cows Across Kansas City
Cows are a rich part of Kansas City’s heritage. Kansas City’s own American Royal hosts the “world’s largest barbecue contest,” one of the Midwest’s largest livestock exhibitions and a number of rodeos, horse shows and saddlebred competitions. This annual event is such a part of Kansas City’s roots, it even inspired the name for the Kansas City Royals baseball team.
American Royal Museum
American Royal Museum (1701 American Royal Ct., Kansas City, MO, 816.221.9800, AmericanRoyalBBQ.com)
Learn more about the role of agriculture in Kansas City’s history. Kids compare their weight to feeder steers, chickens and hogs and learn about the history of the American Royal.
Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead
Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead (13800 Switzer, Overland Park, KS, 913.897.2360, OPKansas.org). Admission: $2/person (under age 2 free) on Fri.-Sun. and holidays, 9:00-5:00, and on Mon.-Thu., 9:00-2:00. Free admission Mon.-Thu., 2:00-close.
The farmstead features many wonderful attractions to help children learn about and appreciate animals, nature and the outdoors, but one of the highlights is the dairy barn. The 5,000-square-foot dairy barn is home to calves of the major dairy breeds and Holstein and Jersey/Holstein cows. The dairy barn is also home to Rosie, the life-size milking cow model children can milk by hand. Other interactive exhibits help children learn more about dairy.
Shatto Milk Company
Shatto Milk Company (9406 N. Hwy 33, Osborn, MO, 816.930.3862, ShattoMilk.com). Explore a working dairy farm and milk bottling company offering tours to groups of any size. Call 816.930.3862 to schedule a tour or attend a special event.
The Shatto family has farmed their land for more than 120 years, 70 of those as a dairy farm, with the milk bottling company opening in 2003. One thing that sets Shatto apart is that their cows are not treated with growth hormones. From start to finish, you’ll witness where milk comes from on a Shatto tour. Children delight in petting calves, milking cows and meeting the famously happy herd. Watch through a window as milk is processed and bottled, and end your tour sampling delightful flavors!