Dade City Farms Turns Ag Interactions Into Learning Opportunities
by RYAN MILEJCZAK
Every time you enjoy a meal, everything on your plate is there thanks to a hardworking farmer. And when you can see firsthand just how hard that farmer works, it changes your perspective on the food you eat. But actually getting that firsthand experience isn’t always easy.
“How an animal is raised or how different things are grown isn’t always taught in school,” says Shane Mart, one of the owners and operators of Dade City Farms.
That’s exactly why Shane and his wife, Laura, teamed up with friends Nick and Allison Cooper to found Dade City Farms, an agritourism destination.
“Dade City Farms got its start because we could see how many people in the area want to see where their food comes from and have a place to enjoy the land,” Shane Mart explains.
Mart has a background in agritourism, having worked for several years with u-picks and blueberry farms in the area. So when the opportunity came along to lease then buy some land in Dade City with his friend Nick Cooper, the decision was simple.
“We’re lucky to be in a good area primed to have another agritourism destination, and we took the bull by the horns and have been growing ever since,” Mart says.
Sitting on 10 acres, Dade City Farms is now entering its third year.
“There isn’t really anything like this in the Tampa Bay area where you can see where your food comes from. So we really saw the need and the opportunity to do that and really educate people and put some smiles on kids’ faces in the process,” he explains.
The farm grows an array of flowers, pumpkins, and corn for their corn maze. In addition, they have a variety of animals — including goats, sheep, cows, donkeys, and camels among others — to help engage visitors.
Dade City Farms gives visitors a chance to partake in a variety of seasonal agritourism activities and other educational activities.
For example, in their upcoming Fall Festival, they’ll have a pumpkin patch of 100% locally grown pumpkins—something that Mart notes is no easy task.
“They’re not the easiest crop to grow in our climate, but we’re doing our best to grow them so we can show visitors real Florida pumpkins,” he says.
Other activities include hayrides around the farm, a sensory “corn pit” of corn kernels to play in, pony rides, a tire playground, seasonal food, face painting, animal encounters, and a petting zoo (including a camel named Chewie).
“We always have some kind of animal encounter,” Mart explains. “In the past we’ve had baby kangaroos and wallabies for kids to interact with.”
If that isn’t enough, you can also find a foam pit for kids, a bubble zone, playgrounds, and more.
“We have lots of things for little ones to do and keep their time occupied,” says Mart.
For those looking for a chance to relax and get out of the sun, there is a big barn where visitors can sit back and relax.
The Fall Festival also will feature a variety of local food and craft vendors, a market with local goods, prepicked and u-pick flowers, and more.
Immediately after the Fell Festival comes a unique opportunity to have a blast — Pumpkin Destruction Day. Held on November 1, this one-day event invites visitors to have fun and let off some steam by smashing leftover pumpkins. Dade City Farms then takes the smashed pumpkins and turns them into tasty treats for the animals.
Besides seasonal festivals and events, Dade City Farms also offers educational field trips that align with Florida’s State Academic Standards for Science, corporate events, and private parties.
With so many great opportunities and experiences to offer, it’s no surprise the public has reacted enthusiastically to Dade City Farms.
“The community has given us overwhelming support,” says Mart. “We do our best to treat everybody like family, and everybody that’s come out has had a great time. We can’t say enough good things about the whole community.”
The balance between educational and exciting activities means a visit to Dade City Farms is more than just fun, it’s an eye-opening experience.
“It really changes people for the better,” Mart says. “I’ll stop and talk to anybody, and I love when people ask questions. Any time I can assist them in growing something. We love seeing the community being involved and wanting to learn how to grow things, how to raise animals. That’s huge.”
While Mart and the Dade City Farms team already have seen great success and an enthusiastic response from the community, they’re still planning more for the future.
“As fast as we’re growing, we really want to give back and create more opportunities for the community to come out and learn different things and pick new fruits and vegetables,” Mart says.
In fact, besides just hoping to see Dade City Farms grow, Mart hopes to see that same growth in the agritourism industry in Florida at large.
“I love how agritourism is growing here in Florida,” he says.
“We’re a bit behind the times compared to many northern states where it’s more established. I think it’s critical to have agritourism laws in place to protect us and help us do what we do. I can’t stress enough how important it is for everyone to be able to get a little piece of agriculture.”
To learn more about Dade City Farms, visit their website at https://dadecityfarms.com/