By Brandi Perry
Located just a few miles south of Memphis, Tennessee, in Hernando, Cedar Hill Farm is a family-run farm that is easily one of the best agritourism businesses in the entire South. If you have never visited the Foster Family at their award-winning farmstead, you need to.
Mike and Martha Foster opened the farm to the public in 1996, and their oldest son Robert and his wife Heather took over in 2006. They are consistently making improvements and additions to the already impressive farm, but visitors are sure to find something even more spectacular each time they drive over those rolling hills. Surrounded by cedar trees lined with fences, the 120-acre farm offers some of the most fun families can have in one place. Even though it is a working farm, there remains a quiet stillness to the property that is hard to explain. Every season brings a different reason to take your family to Cedar Hill for a day, and it will be one they will never forget.
This Mississippi Agritourism farm is by far one of the best activities in the Southeast, and it is so easy to see why. One of the first things people think about when you hear about a farm is their delicious homecooked meals. Cedar Hill Farm did not miss the mark with The Barn, The Country Kitchen or The Country Store. The Country Kitchen is a snack bar of sorts that is open every time the farm is open for seasonal public events, like Easter egg hunts, Fireworks on the Farm, the pumpkin patch and Christmas season festivities. Their food includes everything from hamburgers and chicken strips to barbecue nachos and a double cheeseburger. In addition to waters and sodas for drinks, the snack bar also offers hot chocolate, fresh-squeezed lemonade and even a cider slush. Still a little hungry or need a side item for your meal? No worries! Ice cream, donuts, caramel apples and funnel cakes will fill you up!
The Barn at Cedar Hill Farm is by far one of the best restaurants in the state when it comes to home cooking. Their menu is expansive and includes plates like Mississippi Fried Catfish, Hand-Breaded Tenders, burgers, steak and more. Additionally, they are open a few weekends out of the month for brunch! The plates you can choose from at brunch are pancakes, biscuits and gravy, waffles, chicken and waffles, and steak and eggs or you can choose from a variety of eggs plates. Farm fresh homemade donuts are served complimentary with any plate order, and they are out of this world delicious. A perfect day at the Farm would be to enjoy brunch, explore the farm for the rest of the day, then make your way back for dinner. Their food will take you back to grandmother’s house when times were simpler and there were no worries in the world.
The Country Store will have your stepping back when general stores dotted the backroads of the state. From the store, you can take home homemade fudge, donuts and many other sweet treats. Just like any country store, Cedar Hill Farm’s store has jellies and jams, local honey from the farm, free-range chicken eggs, and fresh produce when it is in season. If you visit the farm, the country store is a must-see. The honey is extracted from hives on the farm used to pollinate the fruits, berries and vegetables that grow so abundantly on the farm. The honey is not heated or cooked, just placed straight into jars. People are starting to realize that unadulterated honey is great for allergy relief and is a healthy option for sweetening foods and drinks. Due to the demand, the Fosters are planning to continue to grow their hive and bee population.
In addition to that delicious honey, Cedar Hill Farm also sells free-range chicken eggs. Even though the USDA does not specify how long chickens must be allowed outside to be labeled free-range, Cedar Hill Farm allows their hens to roam a two-acre fenced area from sunup to sundown. Some studies say open-range eggs are better for consumers because they pack a better nutritional punch than any other egg. By providing more vitamin D and less cholesterol, they are a sure bet to improve your overall health. The farm sells their free-range eggs for $3.50 a dozen or $7.50 for a two and a half dozen flat. You can save fifty cents if you bring your own container. Even though they usually have plenty of eggs on hand, call ahead to make sure they have what you need!
There is nothing like an Easter egg hunt. Some of the favorite memories of kids are searching for eggs over a big yard and seeing who can find the most. Cedar Hill Farm takes Easter egg hunts to an entirely different level. The egg hunts occur throughout the day, and when the kids get bored of searching for eggs, they can ride ponies, pet the farm animals and get their faces painted. After a long day of fun and eating homemade fudge and donuts, a picture with the Easter Bunny is sure to bring an end to one of the most perfect days ever.
Cedar Hill Farm also offers children an opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look at the farm during summer camp. These camps are a week at a time and cost $195 a week. Some of the activities the kids are involved in during this time are seeds and planting, berry picking and jelly making, Dairy 101, honey extraction and fire safety. It is a time your children will never forget. These camps are only available a few weeks a summer, so make sure you check their website regularly to find the dates and to get them registered.
Cedar Hill Farm is also a perfect location for family or company picnics and family and school reunions. With two large pavilions, barn loft, barn hall and produce stand all offering more than 10,000 square feet of space, the far can easily accommodate up to 2,000 people comfortably. Private events also get to choose from several dining options and entertainment choices. When people are planning such activities, it is hard to work with a limited budget, but the folks at the Farm can work with the biggest or smallest budget and will make sure it is one you will not forget. Other private events are possible at the farm. Give them a call today about your event.
With Easter egg hunting in the spring, berry picking in the summer, a pumpkin patch and corn maze in the fall and choosing and cutting your own Christmas tree in the winter, Cedar Hill Farm offers some of the most fun you can have with your family. Great food and activities ensure you will be back for every season.
Even though hours are seasonal and depend on events happening on the Farm, Cedar Hill Farm is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The Christmas tree farm is open from late November to the weekend before Christmas. Usually, the farm is open Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm. On Saturday, the hours are 10 am to 5 pm, and Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm. Make sure you follow them on social media on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram. If you need to get in touch with the farm, give them a call at (662) 429-2540 or email them at cedarhfarm@yahoo.com.