Screamin’ Oaks Farm

A Day on the Farm

Screamin’ Oaks Farm

18171 198th St., Tonganoxie, KS 66086

913.845.2775

Screamin’ Oaks Farm is a sweet little farm filled with big entertainment for children. My kids and I, along with a friend and her son, spent a fun afternoon in Tonganoxie learning about and interacting with many different animals. The gentle dogs and beautiful peacock welcoming us when we arrived foreshadowed the friendly animals we were about to meet.

Our first stop on the farm was a big hit. We could have spent the entire day searching for the 15 ornate box turtles in their grassy home. Did you know the ornate box turtle is the Kansas state reptile? Did you even know that Kansas has a state reptile? The turtles were happy munching the homegrown strawberries and our kids excitedly fed them one after another. I’m not sure the baby chicks were quite as pleased to see us after the chokehold my not so gentle 3-year-old put on one of them.

Roxane McCoy, who seems happiest when she is teaching the little ones animal facts, runs Screamin’ Oaks Farm. She prides herself on providing an educational experience to her visitors. Roxane lives on the farm, takes care of the animals and lives off what they produce. Eggs, milk and other items are for sale to the public.

The green eggs that the hens laid were fascinating and the baby goats nibbling on our shirttails garnered delighted shrieks from everyone. A morning visit allows you to milk one of the bigger goats or bottle-feed the baby ones. We also had a great time sniffing the different herbs growing in the garden and trying to identify them all by smell.

The school year is the farm’s busiest time as groups are welcome, but the summertime is perfect for families who just want to get their kids out of the city and into the country. Call Roxane at 913.845.2775 or email her at screaminoaksfarm@yahoo.com to set up a time. Cost is $5 per person.

Robin Gedman is a Prairie Village mom who enjoys taking her kids on adventures throughout the area.