Hunter Cattle Educational Tours

Photos provided by Hunter Cattle

Hunter Cattle Educational Tours

Hunter Cattle Company, a grassfed beef and pasture-raised pork operation, offers a unique learning experience for kids. Educational tours allow children to learn more about where their food comes from and what it takes to care for the land and the plants and animals it supports.

The Fergusons know a thing or two about bringing kids and farm life together to create an educational experience. The family started their farm about 15 years ago as a family venture and as the farm has grown, so has the family.

Kristan (Ferguson) Fretwell homeschools her own five kids on the farm which often involves putting problem-solving skills, research, math and science to use with real-world issues on the farm. Educating others on farming practices and the differences between pasture-raised meats versus those conventionally produced became an integral part of the selling process once the farm became a commercial enterprise.

Adding educational tours was a natural progression that allows the farm to engage with the community and help others learn about the importance of sustainably produced food. The tours give kids a chance to experience the natural world in what is often their first time on a farm.

“That’s something that we, and me in particular are passionate about. We saw the need for educating people in general early on when we started farming,” Kristan explained.

The educational tours are one of the aspects of the farm with which Kristan has taken a lead role. She acknowledges the success of their family farm is due in large part to each member of the family having different skill sets and being given the opportunity to use those skills in a cooperative effort.

“It has been so rewarding and so encouraging having all the way from pre-K to college age to adult legislatures having field trips out here,” Kristan said.

The tour allows kids to gather eggs (and learn where they come from), dig around in the garden and discover the ways of taking “waste” products and making them useful. They have the chance to see cows grazing and learn about the importance of rotating pastures and the role of healthy soil and healthy grass in creating healthy meat for eating.

“Each part of our farm tour really gets down to what the animal eats and why we want them to eat what they’re naturally supposed to eat because it’s better for the earth, it’s better for the animal, and it’s better for us when we consume them,” Kristan explained.

During the fall season, the farm will host two to three groups of children per week. Tours must be booked in advance and spaces fill up quickly. If you are an educator or parent interested in scheduling a tour, contact Hunter Cattle for more details. www.huntercattle.com/educational-tours