Young's Jersey Dairy Farm and Recreation Complex

I'd been reading James Herriott's books about his veterinary experiences in Yorkshire UK and went on to his biography. Cows were everywhere and the stories all made me think about Young's Jersey Dairy Farm in western Ohio, between Springfield and Dayton.

Young's Jersey Dairy Farm is a corn and dairy farm, tree farm, recreational complex, petting zoo, and multiple dining venue that visitors and the people of the Yellow Springs area of Ohio have come to love. The site offers its Golden Jersey Inn (restaurant), The Dairy Store and Farmstead Cheese Market (another dining opportunity and market - I love cheese stores), a Gift Shop, and the Udders & Putters (2 miniature golf courses). The restaurants are full service and/or snacks-oriented, too. Families often spend the better portion of a full day at Young's.

The acres of land and paths are used for several events during the year, especially in autumn, and one of these events in the Annual Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk on the first Saturday in October. It is a good hike for an admirable cause to honor loved ones and seek a cure for this condition.

OCTOBER FUN

During the first Saturday and Sunday in October, Young's holds its annual Fall Farm Pumpkin Festival and you can pick your own pumpkins every autumn at Young's, beginning at last weekend of September. To go along with the harvest season, Young's features Haunted Wagon rides every Friday and Saturday nights in October from 7:30 pm - 10: 00 pm. The haunted rides to a dark cornfield peopled with haunting actors are made for families with children. These outings include pre-ride scary stories presented by professional theatrical storytellers in a special dark theater. For families that enjoy these monitored nighttime activities, adults must accompany children younger than 11. Young children might become pretty scared!

During the second Saturday in October, Young's Dairy Farm sponsors an antique auto show called the One Room School Car Show. Proceeds all go to support a historic one-room school dating back to 1878 and local students that celebrate Living History Day as part of their curriculum. On the same day, the annual Yellow Springs Street Fair is live and Young's offers rides into Yellow Springs to participate in it. Young's is very supportive of community projects like this auto show. The show includes many awards and live music as well.

NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER

Special events celebrate Veteran's Day and Thanksgiving to honor our military service people, our families, and our nation. Young's serves a Thanksgiving Buffet at regular seatings on Thanksgiving Day all day between 10:30 am and 6:00 pm (reservations required, children 3 and younger eat free). From the end of November through mid-December, your family can come and cut their own Christmas Tree at Young's any day - popcorn and hot chocolate are provided free.

During the daylight hours Young's offers a large corn maze every Saturday and Sunday from the last weekend in August through the end of October every year. This can be a good alternative to the nighttime Halloween-related festivities. The maze covers between 3 and 4 acres of land and is fun to navigate. Kids under 11 must have an adult chaperon, because the maze includes a lot of turns and dead ends that might frighten younger children.

This corn maze and field are safe, and very well maintained and managed.Recently, friends and I visited another corn maze and one of the children became wedged between alrge bales of hay at the maze and had to be dug out. This would not occur at Young's. Young's Dairy Farm is safe and even the scary features of some of the activities are well monitored.

Grandparents Day is not once a year at Young's but every Tuesday from early June through mid-August. On these days, a full menu of activities is offered, including the popular petting zoo (I've always enjoyed that), farm wagon rides, batting cage practice, and a lot more. Actually, the whole family is invited to attend!

Golf and Mini-Golf

In addition to all the other recreational activities, this farm has a popular driving range and a 30-foot fun slide near the batting cages. Picnic areas and open land allow for some walking time. The two mini-golf courses are both 18-hole courses and the first one, called Greener Pastures is particularly challenging. People like it and even play the course in the snow.

Sheep and Wool

For those interested, the Midwest Festival of Fibers is held annually at the farm in mid-September. A friend attended last year and saw wools and fibers from all sorts of animals and plants. She also viewed Alpacas for sale; Ohio is increasing in its Alpaca wool production.