It is important to us to be an educational and recreational resource for our community. Agriculture is a part of everyone’s roots, and while we sense that connection is beginning to be lost, we want to keep the line of communication, conversation, understanding, and experience wide open!
We offer farm tours for school field trips, large and small groups, and for individuals and families by appointment. We also have seasonal events where free farm tours are available to the public.
Our farm tour is a great opportunity to see a working, innovative dairy farm. The tour guide provides a history of the Barstow family farm as well as many other dairy farming points of interest as we travel through the barns and amongst the cows. Because everyone’s needs, curriculum, and budgets are different, we offer the following types of tours.
Wagon Ride Tour
- Seats 20 comfortably
- Approximately 45 minutes
- Tour visits: anaerobic digester, milking robot, milking barn, calf barn
- Weekend Wagon Tour: $185
Walking Farm Tour
- Maximum 30 people
- Approximately 1 hour
- Tour visits: anaerobic digester, milking robot, milking barn, calf barn
- Weekend Walking Tour: $75
Walking Digester and Robot Tour
- Maximum 30 people
- Approximately 40 minutes
- Tour visits: anaerobic digester, milking robot, milking barn
- Weekend Tour: $65
Walking Anaerobic Digester Tour
- Maximum 50 people
- Approximately 20 minutes
- Tour visits: anaerobic digester
- Weekend Tour: $45
Preparing for your visit
Schedule your tour
To schedule a tour, please contact us! Let us know your preferred tour date and time. We do our best to accommodate your tour but some days we may not have a guide available. We'll work with you to find a date that works for both parties! We try to do tours after morning chores (after 11am), and before Barstow's Dairy Store and Bakery closes (changes with the season). Let us know the tour type you'd like to do, how many in your group, if there are any specific topics you'd like covered to match along with your curriculum, and any other notes about your group and schedule we should know!
What to wear
Please wear shoes that can get a bit dirty, clothes that can get smelly, and appropriate clothing for the weather - rain coat, sunglasses, sunscreen, winter hat, mud boots, etc.
When you arrive
Tours begin and end at Barstow's Dairy Store and Bakery. Please feel welcome to park in the store parking lot. You can reach the store by putting 172 Hockanum Road, Hadley, MA into your GPS. If you are arriving by bus, please park on Barstow Lane. Use 14 Barstow Lane, Hadley, MA in your GPS when arriving by bus. We, and your bus driver, thank you in advance!
When there is weather
We are a fully operational dairy farm. We farm everyday, rain or shine, no exceptions. Our guides are always prepared for the elements. If you think your group will not fare well with the weather, there is no fee for cancelling or rescheduling.
Something came up
There is no fee for cancelling or rescheduling weekday tours. We do ask that you stay transparent with us about your plans, please! There is a $25 fee for cancelling or rescheduling weekend tours within 24 hours.
Preparing kiddos for the farm
Our first priority on the farm is our animals' safety, comfort, and health. If you have a rowdy group, you might consider prepping them to watch carefully for active farm equipment, being respectful and quiet when in the cow's homes (the barns), and keeping seated on the wagon when it is in motion.
The tour price reflects the farm’s cost to host these tours. This means that the tour price will be the same despite group size. It costs us the same amount to run the tractor for 45 minutes for one person as it would for a full wagon. At this time, we are unable to offer any discounts. Thank you for your understanding!
Tours on event days and special events at Barstow's Dairy Store and Bakery are free and open to the public. You can see our upcoming events here.
