alafarmnews

Union Springs Couple Works
to Reconnect Youth to Farm Life

By Jaine Treadwell

In this world of high technology and photo telephones, young people are more attached to the web and the cell than they are to the land.

Van and Christy Wadsworth of Union Springs realized the faster the world spins the greater the distance created between the city and the farm.

They wanted to do something about that.

"Farming is such an important part of our heritage, especially here in the South," Christy said,

Van and Christy Wadsworth realized a lot of kids don’t have any idea what farm life is like. So, they have turned 100 acres of rolling land on U.S. Highway 82 near Union Springs into an agri-tourism site open to the public. The farm features a gift shop and snack bar and many opportunities for hands-on farm-life experiences.

Drew Wadsworth lost his way in the corn maze at Dream Field Farms and had loads of fun finding his way out. The corn maze is one of the activities folks of all ages enjoy at the farm.

And, the closest many children have ever gotten to a pig is in the movie theater watching "Charlotte’s Web." They’ve never heard a pig squeal or rubbed its bristly back. They’ve never heard a rooster crow, pulled an ear of corn or tromped through a pumpkin patch.

The Wadsworths decided it’s about time children have those farm-life experiences.

Their dream was to create a place where children and adults could step back in time to the way it used to be when farms dotted the countryside and farm life was the way of life.

"We began to dream about a place like that and then we decided to make it happen," Christy said.

Their dream took root in February on 100 acres of rolling land west of Union Springs. A huge oak tree on a knob in the center of the land marked the spot of the new ‘home place’ for those who would come to the Wadsworths’ Dream Field Farms.

The Wadsworths knew they were taking a chance and the big oak might become a hanging tree for their dreams. But, deep inside, they knew their dreams were worth trying.

On September 17, 2008, Dream Field Farms had their Grand Opening. The farm features a Pig Parlor where kids can get up-close and personal to "Wilbur" and a flock of sheep where kids can learn about wool and the lamb that followed Mary to school.

The farm is a place where goat kids and real kids are on the same playing field. The fainting goats are quickly distinguished from the Boer goats with their entertaining antics to surprise and delight visitors to the farm.

Questions from the kids open the doors of learning and also provide opportunities for parents and grandparents to tell their stories beginning, "When I lived on the farm…" or "On my granddaddy’s farm.…" Dream Field Farms also teaches young people about how things grow, specifically corn and pumpkins.

"We have a corn maze that winds through four acres," Christy said. "You try to find your way from the beginning to end and it’s a real challenge. The corn maze is a lot of fun for all ages."

The pumpkin patch was a real challenge for the Wadsworths and provided a great learning experience for them.

"We have learned a lot about growing pumpkins and it’s harder than we thought," Christy

A little lamb followed Mary to school but little Annie Buce had a trail of pigs following her. Pigs, cows, sheep, goats and a flock of their feathered friends are at home at Dream Field Farms near Union Springs.

Not many young people ever get the chance to drive sheep, but Dream Field Farms offers a variety of farm-life experiences.

The five-acre pumpkin patch produced a small number of pumpkins that could double as jack-o-lanterns but next year’s pumpkin patch will benefit from what the Wadsworths have learned during the first year of operation.

The farm has hayrides and a playground with inflatables and a couple of unique fun ‘things’ just for kids.

"We have a pedal tractor race track that is tons of fun for the kids," Christy said, noting a tractor is synonymous with a farm. "Most all children are fascinated by tractors. They love racing them around the track."

The farm has a stick horse corral where children can ride stick horses with no fear of falling off. There is a corn jump where children can play in tons of kernels of shelled corn.

"We have teamed up with Black Belt Treasures in Camden to stock our gift shop," Christy said. "The shop also features the work of local artists. All of the products we sell in the gift shop are made in the U.S.A. and most of them are made right here in Alabama."

The Wadsworths extend an open invitation to visit Dream Field Farms and step back into yesteryear when farm life was the way of life for most Alabamians.

Dream Field Farms is a chance to experience farm life for the first time or to rekindle the memories of how it used to be down on the farm.

The farm is located 25 minutes east of Montgomery or 15 minutes west of Union Springs on U.S. Highway 82. The farm will be open through Nov. 1 for family fun, school tours and church groups. Admission is charged. For more information, call (334) 740-9669 or (888) 215-2725.

Jaine Treadwell is a freelance writer from Brundidge.