High Desert Educational Agricultural Tours (EATs)

All tours are from 9am – 1pm and include shuttle bus service. Tours start/finish at Sahalee Park, 7th street between C + B streets in Madras. Cost is $10/person per tour.

Register online: http://www.hdffa.org/events/high-desert-eats-jefferson-co-farm-tours/ Deadline to register is one week prior to each tour.

EATs is a farm tour series held in the summer months in Jefferson County with five themed events, each featuring tours at 3-5 farms. Participants learn about the diverse agricultural production from a dedicated group of farmers and community members. HDFFA supports farm and agriculture business leaders in Jefferson County to develop the themes, participants and tours.

May 13 Flowers, Herbs and Vegetables, north county

Visit three unique greenhouse and gardening operations growing a variety of delicious vegetables, beautiful flowers and flower baskets and a huge variety of landscape and garden plants for your high desert garden/yard. You will sample earthly treats and be able to purchase fresh produce, plants and garden items.

May 27 Farm to Flask

Tour a family farm growing rye for New Basin Distilling. Learn about sustainable soil and water use on the farm, seeds and pollination. Finish with a delightful tasting tour of New Basin Distilling in Madras: gin, vodka and whiskey and famous Madras Mule drinks.

June 3 Flowers, Herbs and Vegetables, south county

With so many unique farms to show off, we had to split this tour in two parts! You will learn about and taste hydroponic tomato production, hydroponic cucumbers grown over koi fish tanks and a vertically integrated lavender farm. All these farms offer amazing views to accompany fresh product purchases.

June 10 Spring to Sprout

Robust river, vibrant agriculture, healthy community. Follow the Deschutes River from LaPine State Park to Jefferson County farms learning about the variety of sustainable water use along the way. A picnic lunch stop at a local farm and bus transportation included.

June 17 Beer and Beef

Ever wonder how barley is turned into beer? Taste the process at Mecca Grade Estate Malt, a modern maltery on an historic, 7th generation family farm growing barley and malting it for the brewing industry. Enjoy a light lunch with locally raised beef after touring Symon’s Beef – a family farm raising cattle, all the feed for the cattle operation and custom processing the meat.

Location
Sahalee Park (west side)

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