Shamrock Farms Celebrates Five Years of Farm Tours
Shamrock Farms public farm tour to open for first Saturday of the season Oct. 10, 2009
PHOENIX (Oct. 7, 2009)—Have you ever climbed a 20-ft milk bottle? Walked through a giant cottage cheese tub? What about getting up close and personal with 10,000 cows, even the baby calves? Here’s your opportunity. Shamrock Farms’ Farm Tour barn doors are officially open for the season, providing Arizonans and visitors alike with a fun and educational experience for the whole family.
“We have the unique opportunity of showing schoolchildren and families the inner workings of a real dairy farm. Of course, our tour also brings the whimsical Shamrock Farms brand to life, and we’re thrilled to offer this one-of-a-kind experience to the community,” said Sandy Kelly, director of marketing for Shamrock Farms.
The Farm Tour provides an especially valuable experience for children, as recent studies brought together by Richard Louv – recipient of the 2008 Audubon Medal – indicate that children’s direct exposure to nature and understanding of where their food comes from is essential for healthy emotional and physical development. The hometown dairy delivers on all points – providing an understanding of the dairy industry, interaction with livestock and healthy outdoor play at its Farm.
What’s more, Shamrock Farms has designed its interactive Farm Tour to help educate consumers about eating healthy with nutritional messages and lessons on the food guide pyramid. The Farm’s Welcome Barn also provides an important lesson about giving back to the community by showcasing Shamrock Farms’ rich history in Arizona and tradition of community support.
The one-hour guided tour features a ride on a cow-spotted tram through the home of more than 10,000 traditional and organic cows, a milking barn that accommodates 1,600 cows (milking 200 at a time), an interactive play zone including a larger-than-life milk bottle and cottage cheese slide, a calf nursery and more. Additionally, the 11,000-square-foot welcome center barn houses a Shamrock Farms family history and educational dairy museum complete with interactive games, an ice cream parlor and gift shop.
“The Farm Tour is a perfect fall family outing, providing an unforgettable experience at a tremendous value. It’s not like anything else in Arizona and should definitely be on your must-see destinations list,” added Kelly.
Shamrock Farms’ Farm is located in Stanfield, Ariz., and situated on part of Shamrock Farms’ 1,000 acres of land (with 320 acres dedicated to dairy operations). The state-of-the-art facility presents Shamrock Farms history alongside the importance of innovation in today’s dairy industry through family-focused and educational activities.
The Farm Tour is open to the public Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays through May. Public tours are 1 p.m. on the weekdays and 10 a.m., 11:15 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturdays. The Farm is open for school and organization field trips Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings.
General admission is $9 for adults, $6 for children ages 3 to 12, $7.50 for military and seniors age 65 and better, and free for children age 2 and under. All prices include tax. Special rates are offered for field trips and groups of 15 or more.
Reservations are required. For more information about field trip rates and lesson plans, public tours and birthday party packages, visit www.shamrockfarmstour.com, e-mail roxietour@shamrockfoods.com or call 602-477-2462.
About Shamrock Farms
Shamrock Farms, the largest dairy in the Southwest, produces and distributes traditional and organic farm-fresh milk, as well as whipping cream, sour cream, cottage cheese, ice cream and frozen novelties. Shamrock Farms, which has its own farm hosting both a traditional and organic herd totaling more than 10,000 cows, is a division of Shamrock Foods Company, a family-owned and -operated business founded in 1922 in Tucson, Ariz. For more information, visit www.shamrockfarms.net.
