Wouldn’t you like to have some fun this fall and it not actually cost you anything. You can by taking your family on the “Welcome to the Farm” tour on Saturday, Oct. 4 and Sunday, Oct. 5 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. each day. There are six farms open to the public and there is no charge.

Crosswind Farm, 7230 Cincinnati Brookville Road is set in the rolling hills of Morgan Township, Butler County, Ohio. You can see Jay and Cathy Jacobs’ 17 thoroughbred horses as they graze on the 75-acre farm.

There is nothing more beautiful than a thoroughbred mare racing across a green pasture.

You can enjoy the horses on a hayride in the pasture to get you up close to these beautiful animals. You will see displays of equipment, feeds, and hay that keep these animals in top condition.

Another special highlight of this stop is the rare Cleveland Bay horse. This breed numbers only about 150 in the world today and is on the endangered breeds list.

To be able to see one in Morgan Township is a real treat. The Jacobs’ hobby is raising Dahlias and Cannas in their gardens around their 1840’s home and they hope you will enjoy them also.
The Summe Family Dairy Farm, 3300 Millville Shandon Road, operated by Carl and Sarah Summe, is a great stop for the family. Here you will pet baby calves, see cows milked and the milk travel to a storage tank, never touched by human hands.

The Summe hobby is “hit and miss” engines and pre 1960 John Deere two cycle tractors.

You will be able to hear as well as see these “putt-putt” tractors.
Milking will take place from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. each day.

In the early 1900’s, corn was shelled from ears with hand tools and prepared for feed for livestock.

The children in your family will get a chance to experience that process hands on, shelling the corn themselves.

To get a brochure describing each of the six stops and a map of the locations, go on line at www.butler.osu.edu or call Ohio State University Extension, Butler County at 513-887-3722, or Butler Soil & Water Conservation District at 513-887-3720.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Steve Bartels may write to him in care of this publication.