Farm Tour Highlights Seven Miami County Operations This Weekend

By Doug Carder

Area residents will find some new stops along with traditional favorites on the 2010 Scenic Fall Miami County Farm Tour this weekend.

The free, self-guided tour will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

SUBHEAD: Cedar Ridge Farm Boers

The first stop is Cedar Ridge Farm Boers at 39407 Harmony Road near Fontana.

Owners David and Cathy Webster run a small Boer goat breeding operation, raising 4-H and FFA show prospects, market goats and pet goats.

Raising goats can be a rewarding hobby or small business, the Websters said. Goats require smaller acreages and less money to feed and maintain in comparison to other livestock.

For more information, call (913) 594-2276 or email cwebcattle@aol.com.

SUBHEAD: Silver Lining Herefords

The second stop on the tour will take visitors to Silver Lining Herefords, 8435 W. 295th St., southwest of Louisburg.

Owners Gerald and Marlyn Silvers run a family operation of polled Hereford cattle. The couple sells bulls, heifers and meat calves. The Silvers feed only real feed products and do not use growth hormones in their operation.

The Silvers also have ground beef and strip steaks on site for sale, so bring your cooler.

For more information, call (913) 375-2931 or email geraldsilvers@yahoo.com

SUBHEAD: Middle Creek Winery

On the third stop, visitors will have a chance to sample handcrafted wines at the new Middle Creek Winery, 4353 W. 351st St. near Louisburg.

The Graue Vineyards/Middle Creek Winery is a small, rural hands-on vineyard run by owners Steve and Kristin Graue. The winery is located in the horse barn, and wines are handcrafted from Kansas grapes, honey and fruits.

The Graues say they love living on their historic Miami County farm and enjoy sharing their handcrafted Miami County wines.

For more information, call (913) 377-4689 or email skgraue@fairpoint.net.

SUBHEAD: Prothe’s Pecans

The fourth stop will take you to a long-standing favorite on the tour: Prothe’s Pecans at 33850 Victory Road between Osawatomie and Paola.

Visitors will have a chance to sample the pecans, tour the orchards and check out the equipment used to harvest and shell the pecans at this family farm dating back to 1879.

Pecan halves, cracked pecans, black walnut pieces and container grown pecan trees will be for sale at Leland and Slina Prothe’s farm.

For more information, call (913) 849-3358 or visit www.prothespecans.com.

SUBHEAD: Nighthawk Winery

The fifth stop highlights another new winery on the tour: Nighthawk Winery at 16381 W. 343rd St. near Paola.

The winery, owned by Don and Cathy Warring, includes 2 ½ acres of Kansas grapes (Chambourcin, Vingoles, Frontenac and Cabernet Franc). Tour the vineyard and stop to sample the wine in the tasting room, which is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

For more information, call (913) 849-3415 or email nighthawkwinery@gmail.com.

SUBHEAD: Aplacas At Willowbrook

Owners Jeanette and James Campbell invite visitors to visit their vintage farm that’s home to a herd of gentle and elegant alpacas at 24365 Pflumm Road near Louisburg.

Visitors can learn about the animals’ fleece, for which they are raised, and experience the softness of the yarn and other products made from their fiber. Ancient Incas of South America considered alpaca fiber the fiber of the gods.

For more information, call (913) 879-2066 or visit www.AplacasatWillowbrook.com.

SUBHEAD: 4 D Acres

The final stop will take visitors to an annual favorite on the tour: 4 D Acres Everything Emu at 13096 W 287th St. near Louisburg.

On this entertaining and educational trip, visitors will learn from owners Mike and Dee Martin about this prehistoric animal and what it takes to raise emu. While there, meet the farm’s mascot emu Blue and the family pet emu Barney. A guard llama, Sambo, protects the chicks.

Emu oil products and the emu’s low fat, heart healthy meat will be available for sale, so bring a cooler.

For more information, call (913) 271-1832 or visit www.4dacres.com.

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Posted by admin on Oct 13 2010. Filed under News and Updates. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry