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GreaterUpperValley.com

Opening Day at Billings Farm

Apr 29, 2014 12:21AM ● By Victoria Pipas

Billings Farm, a well-preserved microcosm of Vermont’s past, a look at its present, and a peak into its future, has been charming visitors for more than three decades. Part farm, part museum, and wholly natural, Billings Farm offers a glimpse of 19th century farm life. This year the farm will celebrate its 32nd anniversary. Come and enjoy the festivities!

Billings is a fully functioning dairy farm from early May until the end of October every year. It houses Jersey cows, sheep, chickens, oxen, horses, and more. In exhibits and workshops, visitors get a hands-on, relaxed experience of 1890s’ farm life. Try milking a cow—you won’t know how much you love it until you try it! Then transform the collected milk into delicious hand-churned butter. Finally, to get the full dairy effect, stop by the museum gift shop on your way out for fresh ice cream. When you visit Billings, be sure to also tour the restored 1890 farmhouse and watch a short documentary there about the revitalization of days past and the importance of sustainable agriculture and animal husbandry.

This year, the fun starts on May 1, 2014. Opening day features a cornucopia of exciting events. After a ride on a wagon drawn by the on-site draft horses, you and your family can sample free ice cream from the Dairy Bar. Participate in an afternoon workshop about the proper care for sheep or a young calf. You’ll still make it to the 3:15 milking in the cow barn. And the special events don’t stop here. May 3 and 4 will offer a weekend of sheep shearing and herding with Border Collies. Sundays in June are Ice Cream Sundays—the perfect way to cool off in the summer sun. Enjoy an old-fashioned Vermont Independence Day celebration on the Fourth of July at Billings, featuring lots of family-friendly games and competitions, and capped off with a reading of the Declaration of Independence. The full schedule of events can be viewed here.

Billings Farm offers you and your family a day of Vermont nostalgia and an opportunity to experience sustainable farming practices. Learn about history, agriculture, and science in the beauty of a rural Vermont setting. To learn more about Billings Farm and its offerings, visit the website. And one last word: MOOOOO!

What is your favorite seasonal event to participate in at Billings Farm?

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