Agritourism & Farm Experiences near Waterloo, IA

Waterloo

America's Agricultural Heritage Partnership is the nonprofit that manages Silos & Smokestacks, a 37-county National Heritage Area across northeast Iowa recognized by Congress for its farming history. The partnership connects visitors to more than 110 partner sites, from historic farms to implement museums, and runs youth programs including Junior Ranger badges and Camp Silos. It's based in Waterloo.

Waterloo

Heartland Farms has grown strawberries and seasonal produce on Osage Road in Waterloo since 1983, adding asparagus, sweet corn, melons, peppers, and pumpkins over the decades. The farm runs group outings and events like campfires and goat yoga alongside its farm market.

Buckingham

Beck's Farm is a small agritourism operation in Buckingham, a rural community in Tama County in east-central Iowa.

Hudson

Hansen's has farmed the same ground in Hudson for more than 150 years, and since 2004 has run its own on-farm creamery. Milk from their Holstein herd becomes cheese curds, butter, heavy cream, and ice cream, sold creamline (non-homogenized) and produced without added growth hormones. The farm is a designated Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Site and offers reservation-only tours April through October.

Hudson

Dick and Marie Brown's farm sits outside Hudson in Black Hawk County, in the same stretch of dairy and row-crop country as several other area operations. No independent listing describes current tours, products, or hours — call ahead to confirm before visiting.

Traer

Charlie and Cindy Lorenz built Lorenz Produce into a family business now in its fourth decade on 150th Street outside Traer. The farm sells produce direct from the property, the kind of operation that's grown by word of mouth rather than marketing. Call 319-478-2941 before visiting to check what's in season.

Janesville

Roth's Farm sits on Marquis Road outside Janesville, listed as an agritourism stop in Black Hawk County. Public details beyond the address are scarce online, so a call ahead is the best way to find out what's currently open to visitors.

Dike

Howards Farm has worked its Dike ground since Dora and Cleo Howard started farming it in 1940; Joe and Linda Bohr took over the 2.75-acre property in 2000 and added a remodeled event barn in 2023. The farm grows cut flowers, fruit, and vegetables, and opened a u-pick apple orchard in fall 2022. Open Memorial Day through Thanksgiving, 8am to 8pm. Call 319-535-5392 or email [email protected].

Waverly

Harvest Moon Manor runs its Pumpkin Paradise attraction outside Waverly in Bremer County. No independent listing confirms current hours, activities, or season dates — a call ahead is the surest way to plan a visit.

Clarksville

New Day Dairy is a fifth-generation dairy farm near Clarksville run by Dan and Lynn Bolin, milking around 150 cows. Their GuestBarn bed-and-breakfast puts guests in a loft with 24-hour views into the dairy barn below, plus a barn tour and DIY continental breakfast. Travel Iowa named it Outstanding Rural Lodging in 2022. Reach them at (319) 278-4455 or [email protected].

Clarksville

#sleepwiththecows at New Day Dairy\'s GuestBarn. Experience 24/7 cow gazing out our two large loft windows directly into the barn. With three bedrooms each with their own private bathroom you\'re family will have plenty of space. Every stay comes with our complimentary Intro & Farewell Tours where you can be up close with the cows, calves, and see Rita the Robot milking the cows! Head to NE Iowa for New Adventures, Authentic Cows, and Comfy Beds!

Center Point

K and K Ranch grows raspberries for u-pick during July and August outside Center Point, a shorter and less crowded picking window than most eastern Iowa berry farms. There's no storefront or elaborate website - visitors call ahead to check ripeness and hours before driving out. It's a small, seasonal operation worth planning around rather than a spontaneous stop.