Hands-on Harvests: School Field Trips at Benton Farm, Walton

WALTON FARM FIELD GUIDE

Hands-on Harvests: School Field Trips at Benton Farm, Walton

A guided, curriculum-friendly 90-minute visit at Benton Farm where students meet livestock, ride a hay wagon to the pumpkin patch, and learn about beekeeping.

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Hands-on Harvests: School Field Trips at Benton Farm, Walton.

Duration
Contact operator
Location
Walton
Operator
Benton Farm
Category
Farm
Robert Eric Crews
Founder & Editor, The Adventure Collective
Published Verified

A day at Benton Farm compresses the classroom into a farmyard: children pet and feed animals, climb onto a hay wagon bound for the pumpkin patch, and gather at the hive for a beekeeper’s demonstration—all within a guided, roughly 90-minute program.

Highlights

Outing Highlights

THE ANIMALS

Hands-on animal encounters

Students pet and feed a variety of animals, visit calves and lambs, and even get the chance to milk a cow; spring trips in May include newborn animals.

THE ROUTE

Hayride to the pumpkin patch

A hay wagon carries groups to the pumpkin patch while passing grazing horses and cattle and ponds where ducks and geese congregate.

THE SCIENCE

Beekeeping and pollination up close

From a safe distance students view the beehives and attend a honeybee talk in which the beekeeper explains hive equipment and basic care and pollination roles.

What the day feels like

What the visit feels like

The trip is a brisk, guided circuit around the farm: hands-on time with barnyard animals, a hayride that doubles as a rolling classroom across pasture and pond, a scheduled beekeeper talk, and short stops for demonstrations such as calf or lamb visits and cow milking—condensed into a single ninety-minute session.

Suitability

Who it's for

Who this program is best for (and who it isn’t).

1
Elementary school classesWell suited: the program’s hands-on animal activities, hayride, and beekeeper talk are tailored to school groups but require meeting the operator’s minimum-group policy.
2
Small groups or mixed-age family visitsNot ideal: the operator requires a 25-person minimum with no exceptions, so very small school groups will need to combine classes or meet the minimum.
3
Coordinators and chaperonesA good match for organized groups: the visit is guided and timed at roughly 90 minutes, so careful scheduling and adherence to the operator’s booking rules are important.
4
Spring curriculum plannersEspecially relevant in May: spring field trips offer the chance to see newborn animals and include seasonal activities such as shearing a sheep instead of pumpkin picking.

Practical planner

Details to review before reserving

Timing & Season

Field trips are guided and last approximately 90 minutes; spring visits in May feature newborn animals and seasonal activities.

Group size & booking

The operator asks for a 25-person minimum for your group with no exceptions; cancellation by the school one week prior incurs a $50 fee and weather does not alter this policy.

What to bring

No specific gear list is provided in the trip notes.

Booking Notice

Review cancellation policies before reserving.

Frequently asked questions

Planning Your Outing

How long is the field trip?

Field trips are approximately 90 minutes in duration.

What is the minimum group size required?

The operator requires a 25-person minimum for your group, with no exceptions.

What happens if the school cancels?

If a trip is cancelled by the school one week prior, a $50 fee is required; this policy applies regardless of weather.

What activities will students do during the visit?

Students pet and feed animals, ride a hay wagon to the pumpkin patch, see grazing horses and cattle and pond birds from the hayride, attend a beekeeper’s talk, and visit calves, lambs and a milking demonstration.

Are there seasonal differences I should plan for?

Yes: spring field trips in May often include newborn animals and an activity such as shearing a sheep in place of pumpkin picking.