By Heide Kennedy, Arizona Farm Bureau Communications Intern
Winter break is here! I’m sure every kid in school was counting down the days and breathing a sigh of relief for the much-anticipated break for the holidays! While sleeping in and relaxing at home is always nice, winter break is also the perfect opportunity for getting out and doing activities with the whole family. So, here are some ideas of activities that are not only fun for the whole family but are very educational about Arizona agriculture! 
Shamrock Dairy Farm Tours
Book a tour of Shamrock dairy! Here you can ride on a bus tour of the dairy, visit an educational museum, stop by the play area, participate in hands-on activities, and get a treat at the ice cream parlor there on the dairy!
Schnepf Family Farms
Schnepf Family Farms is a great place to go over the holidays, as they have special Christmas events, with lights, train rides, and much more. They also have a year-round U-pick garden filled with the season’s fruits and vegetables.
Caywood Farm Tours
Caywood Farms in Casa Grande is the perfect place to get a lot of great education about farming in Arizona, while also having a blast while you’re there! When you book a tour, you’ll get to meet Nancy Caywood herself, and accompany her as you go for a hayride tour, pick cotton when it’s in season, hear an educational presentation about ag, and see farming equipment up close!
Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch
If you like seeing, feeding, and petting a wide variety of animals, then a trip to Rooster Cogburn’s ranch is the perfect place to go! Here you can feed and pet ostrich, donkeys, deer, goats, parakeets, stingrays, and many other animals!
Danzeisen’s Creamery Store
While the Danzeisen Creamery Store isn’t exactly educational, I couldn’t help but include it, as it is definitely a delicious and unique way to spend time with family while enjoying some ice cream made from milk produced right here in Arizona! Danzeisen’s Creamery Stores are located both in Laveen and in Payson! You can also purchase some of their bottled milk, cold brew coffee, and juices there as well!
So, while your kids are on break for the holidays, take advantage of some of their time off of school to go out and have some fun while also learning more about Arizona agriculture! After all, without agriculture and the products that these farmers, ranchers, and dairymen produce, we’d all be left without food and clothing!
For even more articles about Arizona agriculture, check out the Fill Your Plate website!