These 5 Mississippi Farms Let Kids Hand-Feed Animals For Less Than A Movie Ticket
Somewhere between a gravel parking lot and a goat pen, a Saturday plan can turn into the best day of the month. Mississippi is full of working farms where kids can hold out a handful of feed and feel a soft, whiskery nose take it.
Most of these spots cost less than a seat at the movies, and the memories last much longer than any popcorn. Pack some wipes, wear shoes you can get muddy, and get ready for a lot of happy squeals.
1. Cedar Hill Farm, The Barn.
Picture 120 acres of berries, pumpkins, and Christmas trees, then add a petting zoo where little hands are welcome to share a snack. Family-owned since 1996, this farm in the Love community near Hernando has grown into a full day of country fun.
Feeding the animals is a favorite stop, but it is only the beginning.
Kids can cheer at the pig races, take a pony ride, and bounce between a regular playground and a pirate ship play area. Tractor rides and hay rides roll across the property, while a honeybee display teaches how honey gets from hive to jar.
Older kids often head for paintball, and fall brings a pumpkin patch and corn maze.
Hungry? The Barn Restaurant and a snack bar keep everyone fueled.
A general store sells fresh eggs, local honey, and root beer floats, which make a sweet reward after a busy afternoon.
Field trip groups love the educational side, and families appreciate how friendly the staff are with curious kids. Hours run 9 AM to 3 PM Monday through Thursday, with later evening hours Friday through Sunday.
Parking is free, and dogs are allowed, so even the family pup can tag along.
2. Seward Farms
Donkeys with big ears and patient cows waiting at the fence set the scene at this Lucedale farm. Founded in 2002, it is a family-owned spot in South Mississippi that comes alive each spring and fall.
For about $5, kids can feed the cows, donkeys, and other farm animals. That small cost turns a quick stop at the pen into a highlight they will talk about all the way home.
Petting is part of the fun too.
Once the feed cup is empty, there is plenty more to explore:
The corn maze is huge, and it comes with a clever twist. Families can scan a QR code and track their spot in the maze by GPS, so nobody stays lost for long.
Pig races, sack sliding, a giant bouncer, and slides keep energy levels high.
Pony rides, train rides, and hay rides add a slower pace when little legs get tired. A large play area and an eating area give everyone room to rest and refuel.
In the fall, kids can wander the patch and pick out their very own pumpkin.
Open days vary by season, so check the website before planning your trip.
3. Wise Family Farm
Weekends belong to the barnyard at this Pontotoc farm, which opens its gates from April through December. Saturday hours run 10 AM to 8 PM, and Sunday runs 1 PM to 7 PM, leaving plenty of time for an easy family outing.
Barnyard Alley is where the animal action happens. Kids can feed the farm residents and get a close look at life on a working family farm.
It is simple, sweet, and just the right speed for young visitors.
Beyond the animals, the grounds are built for play. A farm playground, a corn maze, and wagon rides give children room to roam.
Several games are set up around the property, and in the fall there are pumpkins to pick right from the patch.
Photo lovers will find dozens of cute spots for family pictures. When appetites kick in, hot food is available to order on-site, so nobody has to leave early to grab lunch.
The staff are known for being warm and welcoming, which makes first-time visitors feel right at home. Grown-ups tend to have as much fun as the kids here.
Free on-site parking makes arrival and departure a breeze, even on busy fall weekends.
4. Pumpkin Patch Farms
Goats steal the show at this Blue Mountain farm, and they know it. Little ones line up with feed in hand while the goats crowd close, eager for every bite.
Feeding the goats competes with some serious favorites, though. Kids can sit behind the wheel of a tractor, zoom down the big slide, and even take a ride on a pig-shaped attraction.
Picking just one top activity is almost impossible.
Fall is pumpkin season, and the patch is the heart of the farm. Families wander the rows to find the perfect pumpkin, then stop for ice cream and old-fashioned treats.
The food gets plenty of love, and the people running the place are friendly and easy to talk to.
Many local families return year after year, bringing kids back as they grow up. That kind of loyalty says a lot about how much fun a rural day out can be.
Hours are Saturday from 9 AM to 5 PM and Sunday from 11 AM to 5 PM, with the farm closed on weekdays. A free parking lot sits on-site.
Grandparents may want comfy shoes, since the kids will likely run them all over the property.
5. Middleton Dairy Farm
Have your kids ever wondered where butter comes from? At this working dairy farm in Moss Point, they get the real answer, and they get to help along the way.
It is a hands-on lesson that feels nothing like school.
The star moment is feeding a baby calf. Few things make a child giggle quite like a hungry calf tugging at a bottle.
Kids can also feed chickens and goats, then visit a petting zoo full of friendly farm faces.
Visits are set up as stations, and groups rotate through each one so nobody misses anything. Children watch an adult cow get milked, make their own salted butter, and plant a squash seed to take home.
Between stops, there is a hayride, a playground, and a pumpkin patch in the fall season.
Parents will want their phones ready, since the farm is packed with props and fun spots for photos. Admission is $12, and children 2 and under get in free.
Both cash and credit cards are accepted.
Schedules change with the seasons, so check the website before you head out to see which tour days and pumpkin patch dates are open.