This Tennessee Farm Lets You Brush And Pet Fluffy Highland Cows Up Close

How often do you get the chance to brush a Highland cow with hair that looks better than yours?

This Tennessee farm turns that idea into a real hands-on experience, complete with shaggy Scottish Highland cattle that guests can pet, feed, and groom up close.

The cows are the stars here, and it does not take long to see why. Their long coats, sweeping horns, and calm personalities make even a simple feeding session feel memorable.

Guests can spend time getting close to the herd instead of watching the animals behind a fence.

There is a little learning mixed into the fun too. Farm guides share stories about the cattle and explain more about this centuries-old Scottish breed while visitors interact with them.

It is playful, personal, and very different from a typical farm visit. If brushing a fluffy cow has ever landed on your wish list, Tennessee has a place where you can actually do it.

Meet The Shaggy Stars Of The Show

Highland cattle have been around for centuries and rank among the oldest registered cattle breeds in the world. Their thick coats helped them handle the rough weather of the Scottish Highlands.

Here in Tennessee, all that hair gives them the fluffy appearance that makes people reach for their cameras.

That famous fringe covering their eyes even has a name. It is called a dossan, and it helps protect their eyes against wind, rain, and insects.

The coat itself comes in two layers. Long, coarse hair forms the outside, while a softer inner layer provides insulation when temperatures drop.

Then there are the horns. Both males and females grow them, although their shape generally differs.

Cow horns tend to sweep outward and upward, while bull horns are usually thicker and point more forward.

The cattle at this farm are accustomed to people. They are hand-raised, halter-friendly, and regularly fed, brushed, and handled during farm experiences.

That familiarity allows guests to get much closer than they might expect around full-size cattle.

Each year also brings a few Highland calves to the herd. Seeing one of those shaggy youngsters moving around the pasture adds an entirely different level of cuteness to a farm visit.

These are still working farm animals rather than animals kept solely for visitors. Guests are invited into their routine for a while, feeding and brushing them while learning what everyday life with Highland cattle actually looks like.

Brushes, Treats, And Very Willing Cows

Grooming a Highland cow is oddly therapeutic. Their coat is thick and coarse on the outside with a softer layer underneath.

Running a brush through it feels like combing a very large, very patient rug.

The cows actually enjoy it. Many will shift their bodies to line up the itchy spot with your brush. A few will simply stand there and close their eyes.

Treats are the secret handshake. Hand-feeding is part of the guided encounter, and the animals learn quickly who is holding the snacks.

Guides share little tricks along the way. Hold a treat slightly away from a cow’s mouth and she may reach out with her long tongue to snag it.

Guides also handle the photography. Since your hands stay busy with brushes and treats, a staff member often takes pictures so nobody misses the moment.

Small children are welcome, though close supervision matters during brushing time. Families with toddlers have had great mornings here.

The pace is unhurried. Nobody rushes you through a line or shouts a time limit.

What sticks with people is the weight of the experience. A thousand-pound animal choosing to stand still beside you feels like a small act of trust, and that feeling travels home with you.

Highland Cows Are Not The Only Crowd Pleasers

The Highland cows may get most of the attention, but they are not the only animals waiting to meet visitors. Miniature Jerusalem donkeys also live on the farm and join the Highland cow experiences, giving guests another friendly face to look forward to.

Standing about three feet tall, the donkeys bring a completely different personality to the visit. They are comfortable around guests and are known to enjoy snacks and plenty of attention.

Their smaller size can also make them feel a little less intimidating for younger visitors before they get close to a full-size Highland cow.

Chickens and ducks add even more life to the farm. Guests who book the Feathers and Friends experience can pet and feed them, look inside nesting boxes, and gather freshly laid eggs.

Premium cow encounters also include a stop at the chicken barn to meet the feathered residents.

Having several kinds of animals around makes the visit feel more like time on a working farm than a single animal encounter.

One minute you might be brushing a shaggy Highland cow, and the next you are meeting a miniature donkey or watching chickens move around the barn.

By the end, picking a favorite animal might be harder than expected.

Guided Or Self-Guided, Pick Your Pace

Not every guest wants the same rhythm, and the farm plans for that. Guided encounters come with a staff member who walks you through the herd, answers questions, and manages the animals.

Guides here know their stuff. Expect real information.

How Highlands handle heat, why their horns curve differently, what they eat, how calves are raised.

Premium encounters exist for people who want more time. These include extended access and a behind-the-scenes look at daily operations.

A self-guided option is also available. You move at your own speed along the fence lines, buy feed, and let the cows come to you.

Self-guided works well for couples or anyone who prefers quiet. Henrietta has been known to trail guests up and down a fence, hoping the treat supply holds out.

Both formats deliver genuine contact with the animals. The difference is structure, not quality.

Group sizes stay modest either way, which keeps the atmosphere calm for both people and livestock.

Choosing ahead of time helps. Think about your group, your energy level, and how much you want to learn, then book the version that fits.

Gelato And Coffee Close The Morning

Few farm outings end with dessert, but this one does. Every guided encounter wraps up with complimentary gelato and coffee from the on-site Gelato Brothers shop.

Gelato is denser and silkier than standard ice cream. Served after an hour outdoors with cattle, it lands especially well.

The iced coffee earns praise too. Warm East Tennessee afternoons make a cold cup feel like a reward.

There is something nice about the timing. You sit down, cool off, and let the morning settle before heading back to the car.

Kids tend to replay the whole experience over their cups. Which cow was biggest, which donkey was funniest, who got licked.

A gift shop rounds things out. Small keepsakes and farm-themed items make it easy to take home more than photos.

The treat is not an upsell tacked onto the end. It comes included with guided encounters, which says a lot about how the farm treats guests.

Sitting with a cup also gives you a chance to look back over the pastures. The herd carries on grazing as if nothing happened.

That final stop turns a fun activity into a full outing. You arrive curious, spend time with remarkable animals, then finish with something sweet in hand.

Sunflowers, Paint Nights, And Pressed Flowers

Highland cattle are the main draw, though the calendar holds more. When the season arrives, U-Pick sunflower fields open and guests wander rows of tall golden blooms.

Sunflower fields photograph beautifully in the late afternoon. Bring scissors-friendly plans and a container for the ride home.

Art fans get their turn as well. Painting sessions led by a professional instructor focus on Highland cow portraits, which is a delightfully specific subject.

No experience is needed for those classes. The instructor walks the group through each step, and everyone leaves with a canvas.

Flower pressing workshops offer something different again. Seasonal blooms get pressed into wearable jewelry, turning a farm afternoon into a keepsake.

Photo shoots are bookable too. The pastures, ponds, and shaggy cattle create a backdrop that studio lighting cannot fake.

Mixing animals with creative workshops keeps repeat guests coming back. There is usually something new depending on the month.

Offerings rotate with the seasons, so checking the schedule before you plan matters. A sunflower trip in the wrong month simply will not work.

What ties it together is the land itself. Cedar Pond Farms leans into its pastoral setting rather than paving over it, and every activity draws from that same quiet, green backdrop.

Sleep Where The Herd Grazes

Some guests fall for farm life hard enough to stay the night. Overnight lodging is available right on the property, where Highland cows can become part of the morning view.

Accommodations include European-style barndominiums and other farm-stay options. Choices range from one-bedroom smart suites to larger spaces designed for families and groups.

The barndominiums pair modern interiors with kitchens, private spaces, and porches overlooking the farm. A few stays even put guests especially close to the Highland herd.

Waking up with shaggy cattle nearby makes for a very different kind of Tennessee morning. Guests can also collect fresh eggs, fish in the two-acre catfish pond, or add a fluffy-cow encounter to their stay.

The 30-acre property gives the animals, barns, lodging, and pastures plenty of room to spread out. Staying overnight also gives visitors more time to enjoy the farm instead of treating the cow encounter as a quick stop.

Couples, families, and larger groups can all find lodging options here. Entire barndominiums can accommodate bigger gatherings, while the smaller suites work well for a quieter getaway.

Knoxville, Sevierville, and Gatlinburg are also within reach, making the farm a useful base for a wider East Tennessee trip.

Check availability and book ahead, especially if sleeping near the Highland herd is a big part of the plan. Cedar Pond Farms treats the overnight stay as an extension of the farm experience rather than simply a place to sleep.

Getting There And Booking Ahead

Planning takes about five minutes, and it is worth doing properly. Encounters run by advance online booking only, so showing up unannounced will not work.

The address makes the theme clear from the start. You will find the farm experiences entrance at 1600 Fluffy Cow Way, New Market, TN 37820.

Hours run 9 am to 5 pm Monday through Saturday. The farm is closed on Sundays, so plan accordingly.

Location works in your favor. The property rests in the rolling foothills near the Great Smoky Mountains, an easy add-on to a Knoxville or Sevierville itinerary.

Footwear deserves thought. Pastures are real pastures, so closed shoes you do not mind scuffing are the smart call.

Dress for the weather since most of the time is spent outdoors. Sun protection in summer, layers in cooler months.

Camera or phone is a given, though guides often handle photos during the hands-on portion.

Arriving a few minutes early keeps things smooth and gives you time to take in the view.

Cedar Pond Farms delivers a calm, genuine slice of Tennessee farm life. Book the date, bring your curiosity, and let the fluffy cows handle the rest.