Agri-Tourism

2. Blue Sky Miniature Show Horse Farm
Office:  1710 Canterbury Drive, Hays, KS 67601
Office phone:  785-625-6725
www.blueskyhorses.com
Tours by appointment or reservation only
Call before 6 pm for information and to arrange tour.

In 1992, Marion & Donna Schmidt purchased their first miniature mare from a minister and his wife and since then have become enthusiastic about raising, training, showing, and (selling a select few) to families, friends and all people who are as captivated by these miniature horses as the Schmidts' are. They share the registered miniature horses through tours to their farm for travelers through Ellis County, to families who select to find entertainment at the horse farm, and to the schools of central/western Kansas whose faculty select the educational tour to learn more about the talents of the "littlest horses" in western Kansas. Guided tours and presentations available by appointment.

Miniature Horses have existed for thousands of years in Europe, but only during the past forty years has the miniature horse become recognized as a distinct breed in the United States. In the 17th Century, miniature horses were bred down from standard horses as pets for the children of royalty. They are gentle and affectionate by nature and make excellent pets and show horses and have increased in value during the past ten years. Children of all ages, six to eighty years, enjoy working with the miniature horse. Young children can easily take care of the daily care and feeding. Children can gain much confidence, a sense of responsibility and respect for animals by ownership.

Come enjoy yourself in a relaxed environment, where the animals are in their natural habitat, and where you can pet, feed, and brush a horse. You can also enjoy a buggy or carriage ride.
 

* Cottage Lane Pumpkin Patch
1001 West 15th
Ellis, KS 67637
785-726-2490
Fax: 785-726-3910
soneson@gbta.net
Hours: End of September to the end of October Fridays 1-6 pm, Saturdays 10 am-6 pm,
Sundays 1-6 pm 
Admission: Free
Guided group tours: Approximately 1 hour

Established in 2001 by Donna and Rob Soneson, the Cottage Lane Pumpkin patch is a wonderful little family farm operation that provides more then just pumpkins. Each year during the spring, fall and holiday seasons, the Soneson Family welcomes hundreds of visitors to their farmstead. The home, hog barn and other surrounding buildings each have their own unique story. You will first notice the Soneson home in the middle of the farm. It is a cottage style, prairie styled farmhouse with a lane wrapped around it. You will see big beautiful old cottonwood trees framing the farm with Big Creek in the background. The home itself is an original 1926 Montgomery Ward home kit that was ordered, brought in by railroad and assembled on site. The garage was an old railroad depot building from Ellis that was moved in later. The original hog barn was built in the 1940's. It once housed hogs from the barn to the creek. The two chicken coops are original as well. The large coop housed the hens and roosters, while the small coop housed the chicks. Later on they housed goats and coon dogs, among other things! Today the hog barn and chicken coops have been restored and are open during the annual seasonal events. Families, group tours, field trips and any individuals that want to visit the Cottage Lane Pumpkin Patch are invited to the farm during their seasonal events. Appointments need to be made in advance for group tours or field trips. To find out specific dates and times for any of the events at the Cottage Lane Pumpkin Patch call 785-726-2490.

Location: (Approx. 15 Miles West of Hays.) Take I-70 to Ellis Exit 145. Go south on Washington Street approximately one mile and turn right (West) at the stoplight. Proceed west one mile to 110th Ave and turn left (South). Continue South past the creek and turn left at the intersection. The farm is on the left side of the road.
 

*Fairview Farms Alpacas
Farm is located approximately 20 miles Southwest of Hays
Mailing address: 1811 E. 26th - Hays, KS 67601
785-628-6352
koality@hotmail.com
www.fairviewfarmsalpacas.com                                         
Hours: By appointment only
Admission: $4.00/Adults $2.00/Children 2-12yrs.
Guided group tours: Approximately 1 hour
Fairview Farms is a dynamic family run alpaca ranch specializing in all facets of the alpaca industry.  Visitors will see an actual working alpaca ranch including the pens, barns, feeding areas, stalls and some of the various equipment used in raising and training alpacas. Your visit can also include some hands-on activities and participating in the some of the daily farms chores. You will have the opportunity to experience the fineness of the alpaca fleece by petting and placing your hands on these loving animals. Learn about the intricacy and precision involved with showing these animals in national competitions and see the numerous ribbons these animals have earned. Owners Robert and Deann Baldwin have traveled the United States to compete in National Alpaca Shows and their animals have brought home many first place awards.
 
Fairview Farms offers an in-depth and educational look into the life of alpacas. The alpaca is a unique, docile, and very loving animal. They are extremely intelligent, with each having its own distinct personality. Alpacas are very curious by nature and love children.  Alpacas are raised for their luxurious fleece (known to be of a higher quality than cashmere). 

Fairview Farms also offers a bit of history. The Baldwin family has worked hard in restoring two barns, one of which is approximately 100 years old and was moved into its current location. The renovation of these barns is ongoing, as well as starting renovation on the old farmhand house. This house will be turned into a fiber arts classroom and gift store.

A visit to the farm will take you back in time. Discover the lost art of hand spinning and watch as DeAnn Baldwin, an avid hand spinner, will demonstrate how the fleece from the alpacas is processed. You will learn how raw fiber is made into yarn, clothing, & textiles which make up the garments that we wear. There are also a variety of old fashioned games and activities for visitors of all ages. Children will learn about the benefits of composting and can plant a seed using compost to take home from the Criation Station™. 

Special tours and events are held throughout the year including the Alpaca Farm Day that is held in October. To find out about specific dates and times for events at Fairview Farms Alpacas, please call or visit the website.

For tours, directions to the farm and to schedule an appointment or arrange a field trip, please call in advance 785-628-6352. 

16. Farmers Market

Parking Lot – 22nd & Vine

Orscheln Farm & Home Store
2900 Broadway

Saturday mornings and Wednesday evenings
June through October
Hours: Sat 8-noon, Wed 5-8 pm
Admission: Free

Local farmers and gardeners sell a variety of fresh vegetables, fruit, farm products and baked goods.
 

18. Fort Hays State University Farm
West Hwy 183 Alt.
Hays, KS 67601
785-628-4196
Fax: 785-628-4183
Hours: 8:00 a.m.– 4:00 p.m. Monday – Friday
Guided tours available by appointment
Admission: Free
http://www.fhsu.edu/agriculture/

The 3,800 acre farm is used as a hands-on instructional laboratory for the Fort Hays State University Department of Agriculture. Operations include cow-calf beef production, dryland crop production, dairy cattle production, farrow-to-finish swine production and sheep production. The farm encompasses six major areas including beef, dairy, horse, sheep, swine and crop production. These areas provide a realistic laboratory to apply classroom material and observe practical methods for more than 200 agriculture students.

* George Grant Villa
2680 Grants Villa Road
Victoria, KS 67671
785-735-2372
Paul and Lucy Baier
lpbaier@ruraltel.net
Hours: Free guided tours are available by appointment

George Grant, of Scottish nobility and a most successful silk merchant in London, England, was the founder of the English colony of Victoria, Kansas. He came to American in 1872 to explore the vast open plains country of mid America. He found what he was looking for in the fertile fields of Kansas. In late October 1872 he purchased an estimated 70,000 acres from the Kansas Pacific Railroad. This area was mostly south of the present day town of Victoria.  George Grant hired an architect by the name of Mr. Edin to design his own Villa south of Victoria. This two-story structure made of native limestone rock was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.  Owners Paul and Lucy Baier provide tours during the summer months and explain the importance George Grant played in the development of this area by bringing the first Aberdeen-Angus cattle in 1873.
 

26. Hays Feeders LLC
Hays Feeders LLC
1174 Feedlot Road
Hays, KS 67601
785-625-3415
Fax: 785-625-0074
Hours: Free guided tours are
available by appointment.
http://www.prattfeeders.com/

Hays Feeders is a modern agri-business that specializes in feeding and preparing cattle for market. With a 25,000 capacity feedlot located northwest of Hays, they offer a wide range of cattle feeding services, including established nutritional programs, cattle health services and livestock marketing techniques. It is one of the oldest continuously operating commercial feedlots in the area and brings in cattle from throughout Kansas and the Midwest.
 

40. KSU Agricultural Research Center
Hays, KS 67601
785-625-3425
Fax: 785-623-4369
Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday – Friday
Admission: Free group tours available by appointment.
http://www.wkarc.org

A scenic tree lined drive greets visitors to the Ag Research Center located just south of Frontier Park. Visitors are welcome to drive or walk around the grounds to enjoy the beautiful landscaping, pine trees, shrubs and flower beds. A variety of test plots are located throughout the center to provide research information on crops, soils, weeds and flowers. 

The 1895 Kansas legislature declared, "The experience of the settlers upon the plains of western Kansas was demonstrated conclusively that agriculture cannot be pursued with profit under existing conditions." The legislators saw the need for conducting research where it would be applied. So in 1901, on land that was once part of the Fort Hays Military Reservation, the Research Center was established with a mission to conduct basic and applied research appropriate to western Kansas where rainfall is limited.

Originally known as the Fort Hays Branch of the Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the name was officially changed in 1994 to the Agricultural Research Center – Hays (ARCH). The headquarters area of the center comprises 3,700 acres of cropland and rangeland south of Hays and 2,400 acres of rangeland in the northeast corner of Ellis County. The main area includes the Centers' buildings and feedlot with capacity for 900 head with a modern feed mill located on the site for use in cattle feeding research. Besides trial sites in the field, a greenhouse complex makes possible the continuation of crop improvement and testing during the winter months.  The primary mission of the ARCH is to serve the people of western Kansas by developing new knowledge and technology to stabilize and sustain long-term profitable production of food and fiber in a manner consistent with conservation of natural resources, protection of the environment, and assurance of food safety. The emphasis is on production efficiency through optimization of inputs in order to increase profit margins for producers in the long term.

The research program is focused on agricultural production challenges specific to the region. Those include beef cattle production, cultural and management methods for most of the major crops grown in Kansas, mitigation of the effects of weed, insect and disease pests associated with those crops, and genetic improvements of specific crops. Research is focused under the following major headings: Cattle Production and Nutrition; Rangeland Science; Wheat Breeding; Sorghum Breeding; Entomology; Plant Pathology; Weed Science; Soil and Crop Management. ARCH employs 10 faculty scientists and 19 full-time support staff personnel. Seasonal (student) workers are employed as needed.
 

36. The Lazy H Kansas Ranch
747 240 Ave
Hays, KS 67601
785-625-4650
866-625-4650
Fax: 785-625-4850
Maurice Rohr
thelazyhranch@dellnet.com
www.lhrbulls.com/LHRHome.html 
Hours: Guided tours available by appointment
Admission: Free

The Lazy H Kansas Ranch is part of the Lazy H Ranch based out of Larkspur, Colorado. It is a top genetic purebred Angus establishment that enhances many areas of the beef industry. The ranch is set up with a top of the line Embryo Transplant Program that enables their breeding program to utilize the best genetics there are to offer in the Angus breed. Through embryo transplant, artificial insemination, ultrasound pregnancy testing, ultrasound carcass scan testing, DNA, GeneStar, feedlot data and hanging carcass data they are able to enhance breeding making decisions and future profit, as well as pass these outstanding genetics on to customers to give them a jump start in their programs. On a guided tour, visitors will see the pastures, feeding areas, bull pens and will tour the modern headquarters and breeding facility. An annual bull sale is held in the spring each year. Call 785-625-4650 for details.

14. Mid America Rodeo Company L. L. C.
Charles Reese/Gene Argo
107 W. 13th
Hays, KS 67601
785-628-6272
785-650-7751
Fax: 785-628-1101
charlesreesemarc@ruraltel.net
Hours: 7 pm - Weeknights during the summer months
Admission: Varies – call for event and fee information

The Mid America Rodeo Company L. L. C. offers a Summertime Rodeo Series designed to provide regularly scheduled rodeo entertainment weekday evenings in June, July and August. Future plans include an expanded format to provide rodeo events four nights a week during the summer months. The evening performances feature local as well as national talent in bareback bronc riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, barrel racing, and a youth event. While the series is primarily a rough stock rodeo, barrel racing provides plenty of racing excitement and gives local contestants a chance to participate in six go-rounds.  The M.A.R.C. also puts on Professional Wild Horse Races. Wild horse racing is considered to be one of the wildest two minute events in rodeo. In this particular event, the horse racing teams consist of three members; a rider, mugger and shankman. Using a halter and rope, the team must saddle the wild horse and cross the dedicated finish line. The top six teams, as determined by accumulated points since the beginning of the season (April each year), perform at the the finals. The Mid-American Rodeo Company held the 2005 Professional Wild Horse Racing finals in Hays on October 6-8, 2005 at the Ellis County Fairgrounds.

Call 785-628-6272 for dates and events.