School Tours – Howell Farms

From 1986 to 2006 we conducted school tours on a daily basis during the fall months. As each succeeding generation becomes further removed from direct contact with agricultural production, the need for children to learn about modern agriculture and the vital role it plays in their lives becomes exceedingly important. For this reason we decided in 2017 to gradually reintroduce school tours to our farm.

Our farm tours are different than any other you may have taken. We are NOT an agro-tourism site. We are a REAL 21st Century family farm with on-going production activity where you may encounter a little dirt — but your experience will be highly educational and FUN!

We are listed in the USDA’s census as one of the 8,972 largest farms in America which produce over 1/3 of all the agricultural products in the United States. Yet, we are just a family working together and earning our entire livelihood from the agricultural industry. We are eager for your students to know more about the HISTORY of Indiana agriculture, the ECONOMICS of US agriculture, and the SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY we use on a daily basis to produce our crops. Our tours offer students and their parents the opportunity to experience a large commercial family farm up close, to learn about crop production, and to understand how farmers care for the land.

Our tours are entirely guided by a family member and feature:

In the upstairs great room of our 1857 Homestead Barn visitors to our farm hear a brief history of Indiana agriculture and about the humble beginnings of Howell Farms and its transformation into a 21st century family farming operation now spanning two generations. We explain the importance of agriculture to the global economy and to each student as an individual.
In the rock-walled, lower level of the barn, visitors view a short video of daily activity on the farm and see an on-going slide presentation of crop life cycles. In this setting we also introduce a direct connection with the crops that we produce along with their daily food and non-food uses.
The newly converted Tomato House is where students learn how we grow tomaotes for Red Gold – and see a video about how ketchup is made.
On a narrated wagon ride down the lane to our hillside pumpkin patch with “Ag-Learning” information posted along the way, students will learn about the growth process of the pumpkins – including pollination – and may even learn to do the “bee dance”. Each visitor then will pick their own pumpkins to take home!
In a former corn crib, those groups with time before departing are able to have lunch while enjoying the view of the valley below and make good use of the gently sloping green space for games.

2020 tours will begin September 21^st! Be the first in line to reserve your date and time by emailing Mary at mary@howellfarms.com or call Mary at (765) 748-1163