10 October 2 - 15, 2010 Farm food from Page 1
Siblings Casey and Alison Stechnij are third generation dairy farmers and fourth generation Arizonans, working their 32-year-old, family dairy farm west of Interstate 202, north of Elliott Road in Mesa. Their main goal is to reconnect people with food.
“We work 24/7 by 365 to help people understand how food goes from farm to fork,” says Tour Manager Jason Crittenden who, as Alison’s husband, admits he “literally married the farmer’s daughter.” On location at Superstition Farm, they make all-natural foods with no preservatives including pumpkin spice butter, cheese, butter, buttermilk, cheesecakes, eggs, hard cheese, ranch dressing and all-natural “Puppy Delights” dog treats. They sell their fresh foods at their Mooster’s Moo-tique store and at Udder Delights, the farm’s kitchen and retail store located on the southwest corner of Val Vista and Warner roads in Gilbert.
ranchers who made the food.
For details on a future Locavore AZ or to fi nd out more about Superstition Farm hours, fees, birthday parties, fi eld trips and more, visit 3440 S. Hawes Rd. in Mesa, or access
www.superstitionfarmtours.com. Call 602-432-6865 for tours or group rates.
Mother Nature in the city
Chandler families need not travel far to enjoy more harvest fun at Mother Nature’s Farm, south of Baseline Road between Cooper and Gilbert roads in Mesa. Owned by the Wade Kelsall family, the 40-acre, children’s discovery farm welcomes thousands of visitors and school tours each year. Guests can explore the farm garden, picnic and party areas, and meet farm animals.
Submitted photo
BIGGEST PUMPKIN: See who wins the World Pumpkin Confederation’s largest pumpkin weigh-off at Mother Nature’s Farm in Gilbert.
“We make real food for real people and show them how we do it. I hear guests say over and over, ‘You’ve changed my life. I think about food differently now,’” says Crittenden.
One of Superstition Farms most popular events is its periodic Locavore AZ Tour Dinner. All the protein and produce for this four-course meal, prepared by a high- end chef, is raised within 100 miles of Superstition Farm. Guests sit down to eat with the farmers and
A main draw is the pumpkin patch. Each fall, the farm showcases and sells pumpkins from one ounce to 500 pounds. For an admission
fee of $7 for children and $3 for adults, kids choose and decorate a pumpkin; feed cows, sheep, chicken, goats, pigs and geese; and enjoy an air bounce, straw bounce, hayride and Alexander’s Adventure Maze. “Our most typical visitor comment is, ‘Not only is it inexpensive, but you get much more than you pay for,’” says Kelsall.
For no admission fee at 9 a.m. on opening day Oct. 2, guests can witness the awarding of Arizona’s Giant Pumpkin at the World Pumpkin Confederation’s
Ann N. Videan, APR, loves words and ideas. She writes copy and books and, as owner of vIDEAn Unlimited, LLC, supports visionary entrepreneurs by leading business tribes for writers, independent businesses, and word-of-mouth marketing enthusiasts at
www.videanunlimited.com.
Visitor details
Superstition Farm • The farm is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, except Saturdays when it opens at 9 a.m. It is closed Mondays.
• The petting zoo is open noon to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 1 to 3 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays.
• Farm tours happen regularly on Saturdays at 10 a.m. and noon.
• Tours cost $7.50 for ages 13 and older and $5.50 for ages 12 and younger, with no charge for infants.
• Petting zoo fees are $3.75 for adults, $2.75 for children. • Call 602-432-6865 to schedule other tours or for large groups. Group rates are available.
Mother Nature’s Farm • Hours for Mother Nature’s Farm Store and all farm activities are seasonal.
• The farm is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Oct. 2 through 30, and closes at 3 p.m. on Oct. 31.
• Hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 1 through 5. • The store remains open, but farm activities close Nov. 6 through 26 in preparation for the holidays.
• Daily admission costs $7 for children, $3 for adults. • Admission is free for the opening day Pumpkin Weigh- Off.
• Call Caroline at 480-892-5874 with questions or to make reservations for large or school groups
Pumpkin Weigh-Off. The Kelsalls also offer free admission Oct. 9 and 10 to any October-born visitor in honor of their son, Alexander’s, birthday. Explore Mother Nature’s Farm at 1663 E. Baseline Rd. in Gilbert, or contact the Kelsalls at 480-892-5874 or visit
www.mothernaturesfarm.com for details on tours, farm hours, fees and other events.
Community
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