Like holiday-gift wrappers, scarecrows are hired on a seasonal basis and spend the rest of the year trying to avoid being devoured by horses. Promote seasonal employment with this Groupon.
Choose Between Two Options
- $8 for four admissions to Farm Fest (up to a $16 value)
- $12 for six admissions to Farm Fest (up to a $24 value)
Farm Fest takes place Saturday, June 1 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Live musicians perform as attendees meet animals, ride horses, play games, and munch on food. Meanwhile, local vendors sell crafts and eco-friendly items.
The Children's Farm at The Center
The Center has welcomed kids onto its farm since 1936. It probably wasn't as much of a novelty back then, when Illinois was home to more than 220,000 farms and the U.S. government issued everyone a farmer's hat at birth. But that number has decreased steadily with each decade, dropping to just 76,000 by 2010, per the USDA. Which means that today, The Children's Farm at The Center gives kids and their families something increasingly special: the chance to experience life on an independent rural farm. Here, chickens lay eggs, goats give milk, and horses eat hay harvested right on the farm. The staff also leads tours of these grounds and explains how each animal fits into farm life. They even let kids pet some of the livestock before finishing up tours with a hayride.
For a completely immersive experience, The Children's Farm hosts summer camps for ages 3–17. During each camp session, campers live on the farm for days or weeks at a time, spending their days riding horses and caring for the animals.