Visit the Kids, Baby Goats at Asgaard Farm & Dairy

April 11 is the 2nd annual Kidding Day at Asgaard Farm and Dairy

A Springtime Farm Visit isn't Old-Fashioned Family Fun!
It's about showing children/kids where food comes from. 

While the rest of us have been searching for spring under all the latest snow, Asgaard Farm and Dairy has been getting signs of spring since early March in the form of over 70 baby goats. Perhaps the reason there is still so much snow in the Adirondacks, Mother Nature has been waiting for the annual Asgaard Farm Kidding Day. 

The owners and staff at Asgaard encourage visitors any time of the year, but this April 11 from 10 am – 3 pm is dubbed Kidding Day. During Kidding Day the barns are open for people to walk through. Some goats are grouped in smaller pens while other goats wander around in an open barn. There are other animals to view and a full store to browse. There is food provided during Kidding Day, but if last year is an indicator, it goes quickly. It is serviced on a first come, first served basis. If you aren’t too sick of candy there may even be a fresh batch of caramels.

    

Children pet the baby goats at Asgaard Farm, Ausable Forks, NY

Every time my family has visited Asgaard Farm the experience has been different, which is a wonderful part of seeing a working farm in action. We’ve bottle fed the newest doelings and bucklings. We’ve learned the difference between the Alpine, Nubian and Saanen milking herd.  (In case you wish to tell them apart the Saanens are white, the Alpines have distinctive markings while the Nubians have long ears.) We have peered through the Dairy Creamery window to see all the work that goes into producing those delicious cheeses.

Since it is a working farm and a busy time of year, this is an informal tour. The farm and its workers may be doing another job when you arrive, but there will be plenty of staff around to point people in the right direction. The grounds may be muddy and soft so wear your sensible shoes.

Kids play with kids at Asgaard Farm

Once owned by illustrator, printmaker and artist Rockwell Kent, Asgaard Farm remains mostly unchanged. Kent named the beautiful 1,500-acre farm, which in Norse mythology means “farm of the gods.” With its beautiful mountain backdrop and quaint dairy farm charm, Asgaard Farm certainly lives up to its name.

If you can’t make Kidding Day the regular store hours are Thursdays from 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. To get to Asgaard Farm, 74 Asgaard Way in Au Sable Forks from Lake Placid, take Rt 86 to Wilmington and head toward Jay. Turn left onto Rt. 9N toward AuSable Forks. Upon reaching AuSable Forks turn right and cross the bridge onto Broad St and an immediate right onto Sheldrake Road (CR 65). Follow Sheldrake Road for 1.0 mile and the farm is on the left. The store shop is open all year long and can be reached at 518-647-5754 or www.asgaardfarm.com. 

© Diane Chase is the author of the Adirondack Family Activities™ guidebook series, Adirondack Family Time™guidebooks have easy Adirondack family hikes, Adirondack swimming holes, Lake Placid Olympic activities, Adirondack trivia, Adirondack horseback rides, Adirondack snowshoe family trails and more. Look for the Adirondack family guidebook online or bookstores/museums/sporting good stores. Diane is currently working on the next Adirondack Family Activities™ guide.