Welcome to Part 3 of our special anniversary series celebrating the passionate pioneers behind Farm Stay USA! As we mark 15 years of connecting travelers with authentic, working farms and ranches across the country, we’re turning the spotlight on the spirited founding members who believed in the dream from day one and helped turn it into a thriving national network.

When Farm Stay USA first launched in 2010, farm stays were virtually unheard of in the U.S., a far cry from their popularity in Europe. Many Americans didn’t realize it was even possible to spend the night on a farm; let alone why they might want to. But a small group of forward-thinking farmers and ranchers saw the potential in opening their gates and sharing their lives with curious, countryside-seeking travelers.

From the very beginning, we walked alongside these early adopters, offering support, tools, and a community that celebrated the value of rural hospitality. Together, we nurtured a vision of agritourism rooted in connection, education, and genuine experience.

Fifteen years later, these farms have flourished. They’ve grown into confident, innovative businesses, continually adapting like all successful small farms do. Their voices are stronger, their offerings richer, and their place in the agricultural landscape well-earned.

We are incredibly proud to have been part of their journey and even more excited for what’s to come next.

B and B Orchards, located outside of Salem, Oregon was inherited by the next generation in 2011. The hazelnut orchard had been leased out and the family was not in a position to move to the farmhouse or take over operations right away. 3rd generation, Bari, and her 4th generation son, Anthony, became aware of Farm Stay USA’s website that would allow them to share the farm with others. With a few upgrades and just the right number of modern touches, the farmhouse retained all the warmth and coziness of grandma’s house.  These days, taking visitors around the farm and through the hazelnut orchard is a favorite: explaining how hazelnuts flower, set nut clusters, and are harvested. Equally popular, especially with kids, is visiting the farm animals: feeding the chickens, goats, cows and barn cats, and collecting fresh eggs. One family even spent an afternoon helping to plant flowers in the garden beds, their children wide-eyed and excited to dig in the soil, choose each plant’s spot and asking questions. As for advice to others, Anthony and his mother began modestly and learned as they went along. They searched out best practices, fostered strong relations with their neighbors stayed informed about local zoning regulations and even found grants and cost-share opportunities to offset some of their setup expenses.

Dogwood Hills is owned by Ruth and Thomas Pepler. The farm is located in Harriet, Arkansas and now offers a hands-on experience starting with morning chores, milking, harvesting fodder, gathering eggs, feeding the animals, and checking in on the babies as they arrive. It didn’t start this way. The first iteration before knowing about farm stays started with hosting pastors and their families in 2009. Their guests would walk down during chores and ask to help. It was the beginning of an idea. Ruth found Farm Stay USA and joined. She asked other farms about their setups and began from there with the assistance of her then teenage daughter. Her advice: start simply and as you get that operation under your belt, you can add another. Do things well and think through the business plan.  Her farm has grown with cooking classes, a cooking show, a barbecue contest and more. Her favorite chore with guests is milking the cows, starting with the hydroponic barley fodder they hand feed, then on to the milk stand and the entire process of brushing down the cow, cleaning and milking. Afterwards everyone heads upstairs for a full farm breakfast made with the farm fresh milk. As for favorite guest interaction, Ruth tells of the guest that was very animal shy, scared to death of everything from the moths to the dogs and when she finally put a squirt of milk in the can, she just screamed and then squealed with delight. For Ruth and her daughter, Farm Stay USA proved more than a platform to advertise their property. It opened up international travel for them through USAid to help other farm communities set up agritourism operations and it gave the farm its own community in which to engage and share and learn best practices.

Serenity Sheep Farm Stay brilliantly converted two shepherd’s wagons to welcome guests on her farm, located halfway between Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park in Belgrade, Montana. LaVonne opened in 2009 after discovering (from us) that there was a thing called a “farm stay” and it could be something she added to her farm to generate additional income. Originally one of her favorite chores with guests was to show them how to milk her goats. These days the goats are gone and instead she runs a wool mill where guests can learn the process of taking a sheep fleece and turning it into roving. LaVonne’s advice to farms thinking of starting up with a farm stay – make friends with your local county health and planning departments in order to understand what permits you might need and what you are actually allowed and not allowed to do on your property. Her other bit of advice when it comes to hosting guests – you never know who they might be. She admits she is a “hugger” and she includes this in her welcome note just in case this is something that might make a guest uncomfortable. One guest asked if she really did hug her guests because he had read all her material. When she queried him as to why he was checking, he responded “I like to know what I am headed into.” It turns out he was an FBI Investigative agent! Farm Stay USA gave LaVonne a basis for her operation that has now welcomed guests from 29 countries and all over the U.S. As one of her friends said, “Leave it to LaVonne to bring the world to her.”

Stillwaters Farm is a family owned and operated 153+ acre farm and vineyard in Henderson, Tennessee with a menagerie of animals (including a peacock!) and gardens. Valeria began hosting guests in 2007. At first it was just a way to accommodate friends and family who wanted to visit the Pitonis since they had uprooted their lives in a move from Florida to Tennessee. This quickly turned into a career decision with Valeria focused on educating guests about the important role agriculture plays in everyone’s lives. With the opening of her farm to guests, there were lessons learned. Be yourself in your presentation as all farm hosts are as varied as what they grow. Use direct booking to save your guests the additional fees – this also is more efficient (for everyone) and makes interactions more personal without a middleman. Her favorite experiences with guests these days revolve around the grape harvest from the vineyard recently installed in 2023. They are able to truly engage their senses in the feel, the smell and of course the taste of a ripe wine grape. As for memorable experiences, Valeria tells of a young man who brought his mom to the farm specifically to learn how to build a compost bin. They spend a Saturday together building a small one where the boy learned how to use power tools, think through the process and enjoy a job well done. Only a year later, he passed away, but his mom still visits from time to time because this was one of his favorite places in the world, a bond they will have for life. Farm Stay USA, for Stillwaters Farm, gave them the credibility they were looking for as part of a network of farmers who work hard, share their knowledge and believe in their collective future.

Vermont Grand View Farm is located in Washington, Vermont just south of Montpellier and closer to the Canadian border than to New York City. The farm is run by Kim Goodling and her family. They first started hosting guests in about 2005 after purchasing their farm and realizing it was the perfect setup for what they were then calling a “bed and breakfast”. The farm is recognized as having Vermont’s first flock of Gotland sheep, an endangered wool breed from Denmark that is slowly being revived in the U.S.  Not just about the sheep, Kim has connected her guests with Vermont’s rich agricultural life, teaching about maple sugaring, shepherding, fiber arts, and sustainable farming. They can help with chores or just settle back to snuggle with the sheep. Farm Stay USA has helped Kim spread the word about her farm and what she offers. Guests have arrived to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and weddings. They have come to grieve the loss of loved ones and to get lost on the dirt county roads. They’ve come to get engaged and then write wedding vows. They’ve been opera composers, internationally know singing groups, Pixar graphic artists, German knitting experts, journalists, photographers, people from Siberia, Australia, Italy, India, Canada, Japan, Germany and France. The most memorable was the very first family who had a little girl. She went to help collect eggs. When she felt how warm the freshly laid egg felt, she went running to her grandmother sitting on the porch and held it out to her saying “Look, the hen laid an egg, and she even cooked it!” Teaching moments come in all shapes and forms and for all age levels and farmers like a good laugh now and then to see the farm as an outsider.

As we celebrate the enthusiasm and evolution of our founding members, we’re reminded that the farm stay movement in the U.S. has always been fueled by heart, hustle, and a deep love for the land. These early partners dared to try something new and helped shape a community that continues to grow.

But the story doesn’t end here.

In the coming weeks, we’ll share Part 4 – The Rest of Us, featuring a final group of farms that also launched in the early 2000s. those who, like Leaping Lamb Farm (my own!), were neither brand new nor deeply seasoned when they joined the Farm Stay USA family. The last part in this series offers a personal glimpse into how this movement not only supported other farms, but also helped save my own and how a vision for a nationwide farm stay platform took root. Stay tuned!

If you haven’t read Part 1 – The Trailblazers or Part 2 – The Ranchers be sure to check them out!

(Header photo courtesy of Dogwood Hills)

The post 15 Years of Farm Stay USA: Celebrating Our Roots and Honoring the Founders Who Helped Cultivate a Movement (3) appeared first on Farmstay.

Check out these delightful farm stays where you can ride around the farm, drawn either by horses or these days more likely the tractor. Embody the joy experienced by your inner-ancestor.

Here’s a roundup of just a few of the farms you can visit:

Fairwinds Farm Located in Maryland, Fairwinds Farm offers a variety of activities including hay wagon rides, horseback riding, and fishing. This family-friendly farm is perfect for those looking to experience a variety of farm life activities in a scenic setting​ (Farmstay)​.

Verdant View Farm Situated in Pennsylvania, Verdant View Farm provides hay wagon rides, dairy tours, and opportunities to help with farm chores. This farm emphasizes hands-on experiences, making it ideal for families and groups looking to get involved in farm life​ (Farmstay)​.

Hull-O Farms Located in New York, Hull-O Farms features hay wagon rides, bottle feeding animals, and opportunities to explore a corn maze (seasonal). Guests can also participate in various other farm activities such as fishing and gardening​ (Farmstay)​.

Liberty Hill Farm Inn This Vermont farm offers hay wagon rides, berry picking, and dairy tours. Liberty Hill Farm Inn is a great place to learn about sustainable farming practices while enjoying the beautiful Vermont landscape​ (Farmstay)​.

HarBet Lodge Located in Texas, HarBet Lodge provides a range of activities including hay rides, fishing, and learning about large animal veterinary care. This farm stay offers a unique blend of educational experiences and outdoor fun​ (Farmstay)​.

A Tennessee Dude and Guest Ranch At this Tennessee ranch, guests can enjoy hay wagon rides, horseback riding, and even participate in bread and butter making. This ranch is perfect for those looking to immerse themselves in a traditional ranch experience​ (Farmstay)​.

Summer is hay season on the farm so this is the time to get out for those rides. Some of these farms will trade wheels for sleds in winter, when you cuddle under blankets, marvel at the quiet of the snow and the huffing of the team, and dream of hot chocolate on return home.

These farms here are just a few of the farms offering hay wagon rides found under the Activities filter check-off for hay wagons on the Farmstay site. Give it a try!

(Cover photo courtesy of Hull-o Farms NY)

The post Hay Wagon Rides and Summer Go Hand-in-Hand appeared first on Farmstay.

As Lori explains it, the farm began with a dream…as in the sleeping kind of a dream. She dreamt of land and ponds and growing food she gave away. And the entire dream was in color. Without any experience growing vegetables, she interpreted the dream to mean she should support food pantries or maybe volunteer at soup kitchens. The dreams persisted. Her husband realized she wasn’t kidding, and, through the serendipitous force of timing and faith, they found a farm to buy on the outskirts of Nashville. Thus, began Lori’s mission to grow and supply healthy food to those in need.

First, however, the Birckheads had to start with infrastructure since all the farm had remaining was an old stone house and a falling-down barn. They built a large red barn (the farm’s identity), ostensibly to house Lori’s harvested vegetables; refurbished the stone house so a family could live there, these days as tenant farmers; and began the work of improving the soils where their first garden was to be planted (Lori uses the word ‘garden’ although it looks more like a large  field with row crops in the photos!)

Slowly, with help from neighbors, their local Extension office, hired experts, their own labor and that of others interested in their ultimate mission, the farm began to see itself restored and producing large quantities of vegetables. To assist in distribution, the charity organization teamed up with Second Harvest to supply food banks in their area. Volunteers have helped ever since and By Faith Farm has donated thousands of pounds of locally produced fresh produce.

In the summer of 2019, Lori opened her modern apartment on the second floor of the red barn as a farm stay. Tastefully appointed and spacious at 1500 square feet, it boasts two master bedrooms, two bathrooms, a large kitchen and living area, and a balcony with views of the cattle pasture and incredible sunsets. Guests can explore the property, scouting for the old tobacco barn in the woods or throwing a line into the fishing pond for catfish. Lori may even take you for a ride down the trails in her farm UTV (utility vehicle). If you want to help with chores or volunteer in the fields, she has no problem offering you a hands-on experience. And, the purpose behind the farm stay, in addition to giving guests a taste of farm life? All revenue from the farm stay is funneled to the farm’s mission of feeding those in need.

Currently, a cattle farmer leases some of the land for his herd, a beekeeper places his hives around the fields of vegetables and flowers, the tenant farmers have their own production CSA (community supported agriculture) for locals, and Lori has a u-pick flower operation, added in 2019 for additional income to support the farm’s endeavors. Without forethought, the farm has become a springboard for others. Lori chalks it up to pursuing her mission with faith.

Speaking to Lori, it is clear this accountant-turned-farmer has found her true mission to do good in this world with a very local impact. What’s next? There are 50 more acres to tame, a tobacco barn that could second as an event center, beautiful spots on the farm for weddings, and anything else Lori can envision (or dream) to ultimately pave the way to ”health responsibility, food justice and hunger relief” (from her website www.byfaithfarm.com).

Check out By Faith Farm here on Farm Stay USA for more information and to book your stay today!

(Photos courtesy of By Faith Farm)

The post By Faith Farm in Joelton, Tennessee appeared first on Farmstay.

Farmers are sharing their daily lives with increasing frequency via social media, and one of our favorite ways to see what they’re up to is to follow on Instagram. Here, in no particular order, are six farms (with farm stays) to follow on Instagram right now!

1. Toddy Pond Farm in Monroe, Maine

Sharing a mix of photos from animals, to farm projects, to products available for sale (dying to try their yogurt!), Toddy Pond Farm gives you a great glimpse into their diversified family farm and micro dairy.

See their listing on Farm Stay USA: Toddy Pond Farm

2. Rancho Dos Amantes in Paso Robles, California

This one is – so far – for all the wedding daydreamers out there. The Instagrammers at this beautiful central California wine country farm have focused their lenses on the happy couples and pastoral ambiance of farm stay weddings.

Since writing this post, Rancho Dos Amantes has gone up for sale and is not hosting farm stays.

3. Stillwaters Farm in Henderson, Tennessee

Follow along with farm stay host Valeria as she furnishes an Airstream glamping trailer, builds and furnishes a bath house for guests, or makes soap for her on-farm shop. Also making appearances are the livestock guardian dogs (LGDs) and the gorgeous Tennessee farm scenery.

See their listing on Farm Stay USA: Stillwaters Farm

4. The Inn at Crippen Creek Farm in Skamokawa, Washington

The photos posted on this Instagram account are alllllll about the food. Hosts Don and Kitty Speranza are professional chefs who now operate a 15 acre working farm. Holy cannoli!

See their Farm Stay USA listing: The Inn at Crippen Creek Farm

5. Inn at Valley Farms in Walpole, New Hampshire

The Inn at Valley Farms posts a little bit of everything. Weddings, farm animals, scenery, mushrooms. You’ll easily experience every season on this working organic farm via Instagram.

See their Farm Stay USA listing: Inn at Valley Farms

6. Stony Creek Farmstead in Walton, New York

“Let your family free range” is the hashtag you’ll find on many of the photos from Stony Creek Farmstead. The animals aren’t the only ones who get to free-range! Here you’ll find farm stay guests helping out with the chores, photos of the “plush-rustic” platform tents, farm hands, barn kitties, and more.

See their Farm Stay USA listing: Stony Creek Farmstead

This is a start, but by no means the only farm stays on Instagram. We’ll definitely have another post coming up soon, with even more accounts to follow! Meanwhile, make sure you also follow Farm Stay USA on Instagram! We mostly re-gram from our farm stay members, so it’s a great way to find new places to add to your must-visit lists.

The post Six Farm Stays to Follow on Instagram appeared first on Farmstay.

Valeria shared with us that although the farm has a “way out” feeling, due to being nestled among approximately 1,000 acres of cropland, wooded areas, and other family farms, it’s actually quite close — only 2 miles — from the city limits of Henderson. The farm, farm stay, and their animal inhabitants live on the front 25+ acres of the property, while the rest is considered hay fields and natural habitat.

This “back 100+” acreage is an excellent place for a hike or golf cart ride, and, after being assessed by a semi-local ornithologist, Valeria says they can boast a good population of birds whose species are rated as in-decline. (Bring your binoculars!) Other wildlife in the area are deer and wild turkeys in abundance, an occasional coyote, and once in a great while visitors to the farm may see a red fox, an armadillo, or even otter or bobcats.

When asked what guests typically do when they visit the farm, Valeria said, “while many of our guests arrive with a list as long as their arm, most emerge from the Cottage after a couple of days with hair sticking every which-way, coffee mug in hand, stating — emphatically — that they can’t remember when they’ve rested so well!”

Aside from all that wonderful rest, guests receive “critter tours” to get to know the inhabitants and landscape of the farm, any questions they have are answered, and from that point on, they decide what they’d like to do. Guests are welcome to join in whatever farm activity is happening, whether it be hay season, bringing in the crop, animal feeding and/or grooming, trimming time for horses, gardening, animal babysitting, nature hiking and photography excursions, flower collecting, and much more.

The farm occasionally hosts artist’s workshops, where they prepare and paint gourds that are raised on the farm. Off farm activities can include visits to Civil War monuments, such as Shiloh National Battlefield Park, a pearl farm attraction, Casey Jones Village and Museum, a minor league baseball park, and several state parks within an hour’s drive. Guests may also enjoy horseback riding, canoeing, visiting the nearby Amish community of Lawrenceburg, or attending events at the West Tennessee State Fairgrounds. The town of Henderson boasts a new day spa, only 4 miles from the farm, where guests can find services like massage, facials, manicures, and pedicures.

Local food enthusiasts can make their way to the West Tennessee Farmer’s Market in Jackson, where dozens of vendors sell a wide variety of produce, grass-fed meats, arts, crafts, and products from Stillwaters Farm. The farm itself also has “The Silo”, their very own on-farm store featuring their handcrafted artisan soaps, soy candles, art, photography, and more.

Guests staying at Stillwaters Farm enjoy a free-standing 2 bedroom, 1 bath, 1,000 square foot cottage at the leading edge of the farm. It’s climate-controlled with central heat and air, and it offers an outdoor lounge area with views of the diverse gardens and pastoral vistas. A private drive leads to the private parking for Cottage guests.

Inside, Valeria tells us, “the Cottage is furnished in period antiques, albeit touchable antiques, along with a 1917 cast iron claw foot tub for soaking.” The bedrooms are spacious and the beds have premium mattresses for guests’ comfort. There is a television and DVD/VCR player, along with a small library of videos, and a stereo hidden away in the living room, but there is no satellite, cable, or Wi-Fi service. A small, but eclectic, library is maintained for guests to use.

Guests self-prepare their meals, and the kitchen is outfitted with all major appliances, cookware, tableware, and flatware necessary. The Cottage is stocked with coffee, soaps, and essentials like cooking oil, salt and pepper, and spices for guests to use, and guests are encouraged to partake of the fresh, in-season produce from the farm’s garden.

To learn more, we invite you to visit the Stillwaters Farm listing here on Farm Stay U.S., as well as their website and Facebook page.

(All photos courtesy Stillwaters Farm)

The post Stillwaters Farm: Escape the hustle and bustle at this farm stay in the heart of West Tennessee appeared first on Farmstay.