The Conservation Foundation’s Dickson-Murst Farm, 2550 Dickson Road, Montgomery, is a celebration of our area’s rural heritage and a gathering place for family and friends to make memories. Visitors can get a taste of what farm life was like in bygone days at Spring at the Dickson-Murst Farm from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, May 4.
This free event features children’s crafts, activities and play spaces, live farm animals to observe and pet (including alpacas, Ellie the mini-cow and Fudge the goat), hayrides, barrel train rides, farm demonstrations, face painting and more. Kids can also drive a tractor again this year and earn their good driver sticker. When you need a break, sit a spell in one of the farm’s signature red rockers while you enjoy tasty vittles from the Country Kitchen. Antique trucks and tractors will be on display and all of the pristinely restored historic farm buildings will be open for exploration and the Sandwich Early Day Engine Club will be there as well.
Students from the Newark Chapter of Future Farmers of America (FFA) will have their farm animals at the event and will also be selling flowering annuals and hanging baskets. The Kendall County 4-H clubs will be offering make and take craft projects and activities as well.
•Dickson-Murst Farm will also offer a kids Farm Camp, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday, June 23 through Friday, June 27.
Kids will have fun doing chores as they learn about farm life with farm animals, big farm equipment, hayrides, and getting dirty while playing outside. The week-long day camp introduces kids, entering third through sixth grade, to both the historic and modern methods of farming while experiencing a little bit of farm life at this historic farmstead. Staff from the Kendall County Outdoor Education Center, Kendall County Ag in the Classroom, The Conservation Foundation, and volunteers from the Dickson-Murst Farm Partners will guide campers through a variety of crafts and demonstrations, including how to make butter and candles, and hands-on learning opportunities. With a focus on local history and nature, campers engage in lessons and learn about the rural lifestyle that is part of the region’s cultural heritage.
Cost is $195 per camper. Register online at https://tcf.givecloud.co/2025-dickson-murst-farm-camp Call 630-428-4500, Ext. 161 for more information.
— Conservation Foundation