FARM TOURS

Where does your milk come from? We'd like to show you! Enjoy a two hour behind-the-scenes farm tour of all aspects of our local, working dairy. You don't have to be into anything agriculture to appreciate all you'll learn in one of these tours. These guided tours are chock-full of educational information we feel is best suited for older elementary students and up, however the hands-on side of things is pretty neat for kids 1-100. We can accommodate school field trips, clubs, church groups, garden clubs, other organizations, and families.  We are available for farm tours in the Fall and Spring only; Fall is best for school groups and Spring is ideal for Ag classes, 4-H  or smaller groups. 

WHAT TO EXPECT

• Arrive at the Milk Plant and Farm Office to meet your tour guide who will provide you with instructions and our Farm Etiquette Rules

• Visitors will drive their own vehicles to the various parts of the farm, all within a 1/4-mile from each other

• Pet calves and get close to 1,800lb cows

• Learn more than you'd ever imagine about calves, cows, and dairy farming

• Watch cows milk themselves in our robotic milking barn 

• See tractors and equipment (the guys love that) 

• Learn about the different methods of milk processing and what sets ours apart from the rest

• Enjoy samples of our milk 

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RESERVE A TOUR DATE

PLAN AHEAD as our tour dates fill up fast, especially our October dates. Our tour seasons are Spring and Fall only; mid-March through mid-May then again mid-September through mid-November. We ONLY offer tours on Fridays and select Saturdays during our Tour Seasons when our guides are available. Scroll down to see our tour calendar but check our Facebook page for semi last minute pop-up tours. Reservations are required for all tours. No one is allowed at the barns or on the property without a guide. 

Cost $10 CASH per person

Pay upon arrival; we do not accept credit cards or checks. Kids 2-years old and younger are free. *We do not require payment in advance at this time.

Scheduling and Cancelations

We require a MINIMUM of 30 GUESTS PER TOUR (we only count guests ages 3 and over) or a minimum fee applies. Tours that fail to meet the minimum guest requirement will be canceled 48-hours in advance. If you cannot attend a tour that you have reservations for, PLEASE let us know 48-hours in advance so we can cancel the tour or have time to fill your spots ... PLEASE DO NOT BE A 'NO SHOW' since our guides travel 40-minutes to get here. 

In the case of bad weather: We do not usually cancel when the rain chance is low or for light rain/scattered showers because the majority if our tour is under some sort of shelter. BUT if it's calling for bad weather like LOTS of rain, then that's not fun and we'll make a decision. In this case we like to give at least a 24-hour heads up! If rain is on the forecast we will be in conversation with you earlier in the week.

Contact Jamie Pearson for more information and to schedule your tour at (803) 480-3312 or email at hhmfarmtours@gmail.com. 

Follow us on Facebook to stay up-to-date on our tours.

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Private Tours: These tours are for the reservation holder only. Cost is $10 per person or a minimum fee applies. 

Small Groups / Homeschool Field Trips: These tours consist of several families and/or homeschool groups, or a mix of the two. We try to fill the space so we have plenty attending but our minimum guest policy does apply to these tours, especially when you reserve 30+ spots because we don't add more to that group size. 

School Field Trips: Fridays in October are designated for large groups only (example: public school field trips); I do give priority to elementary schools during the Fall since we have our Corn Maze and the younger students enjoy that more than the older kids. Plan ahead as these dates fill up fast; see our calendar below and look for dates that say "best for school field trips." Note: We have six picnic tables on the porch of our office and plenty grass to spread out for picnic lunches, just bring a blanket. If rain is on the forecast we'll be in conversation about it ahead of time earlier in the week. For older students and Ag classes, we have Spring dates as well so if you can wait until Spring that's great, don't worry the tour is just as good!

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WHERE TO FIND US

Hickory Hill is located near scenic Sumter National Forest and we are confident that, if the gorgeous scenery doesn’t bring you back, the chocolate milk will. Enter the address below into your GPS and enjoy the country roads:

Milk Plant & Office

150 Faulkner Mountain Road

Edgefield, SC 29824

PARKING

All tours meet at the Milk Plant and Office parking lot (two red metal buildings with porches that share a parking lot). Additional parking is in the grass behind the milk plant/warehouse. Please do not block the driveway as we do have trucks picking up milk. Be prepared to ride in your vehicles and follow the guide to the various tour destinations; you will return to the Milk Plant/Office.

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THINGS TO REMEMBER

• Closed-toe shoes are required for all individuals participating in farm tours. 

• Strollers are welcome. 

• Most places are accessible by wheelchair; please let us know when you make reservations so we can assist with great parking etc.  

• Be prepared to ride in your vehicles and follow the guide to the various tour destinations; you will return to the Milk Plant/Office.

• We have six picnic tables, covered porches, and a grassy yard if you want to bring a bag picnic lunch. We recommend a  blanket/sheet if you want to spread out in the grass.

• You can purchase our products here on the farm in our Honor Cooler after your tour. If you "think" you might buy something, be sure to bring CASH and a COOLER!