SHAMROCK FARMS FARM TOUR SCHEDULED TO REOPEN TO PUBLIC OCT. 7
More than a fun afternoon, farm experience reconnects children to Arizona agriculture
PHOENIX (Oct. 1, 2008) – Shamrock Farms will reopen its Farm Tour barn doors next week on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2008. The Farm Tour, closed for the hot summer months, is now once again ready to entertain and educate Arizonans and visitors about the inner workings of a real dairy farm.
“The farm is more than just a tour. It’s one of the only first-hand opportunities Arizonans have to learn about agriculture and understand how milk gets from our farm to their family’s table,” said Sandy Kelly, director of marketing for Shamrock Farms.
This experience is increasing in value 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.
Located in Stanfield, Ariz., the Farm Tour sits 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 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.
“Farm guests truly get to experience a day in the life of our dairy,” said Kelly. “They learn how important our cows are to us and why the special care they receive is essential in producing the high-quality milk Shamrock Farms prides itself on.”
The Farm Tour is open to the public Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Public tours are 1 p.m. on the weekdays and 10 a.m., 11:15 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturdays. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings, the tours are dedicated to school and organization field trips.
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 http://www.shamrockfarmstour.com, email roxietour@shamrockfoods.com or call 602-477-2462.
Shamrock Farms, the largest dairy in the Southwest, produces and distributes 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 a herd of 10,000 cows, is a division of Shamrock Foods Company, a family-owned and -operated business founded in 1922 in Tucson, Arizona. For more information, visit shamrockfarms.net.
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