skyhook115
we just visited the Hansen dairy farm just south of Hudson Iowa. what a fantastic experience. If you have ever wondered how milk bitter or cheese get to your table, the tour will open your eyes. The Hansens are fantastic hosts. and the operation is top notch all the way. with complimentary ice cream. and the conclution of the tour. if you're in the Waterloo area stop by. you may even see a few Wallabys
FromMyFrontPorch
Touring a dairy farm may not be your idea of entertainment, but let me assure you, it's time well spent! Yes, it's out of doors. Yes, dairy farms can be odoriferous. But if you want a fun, family activity, put this on your must-see list! The farm is owned and operated by the Hansen family. Their mascot is a joey, and yes, there are joeys on the farm. You'll get up close and personal with the cows, who each have names. You'll sample Hansen's ice cream, made on site, and enjoy a wagon ride around the farm. Visiting Hansen Dairy is a great way to see a farm to table process of the highest quality products.
sleepycat69
We stumbled on this place after spending much of the day touring John Deere plants. We were looking for something less technological (although we LOVED the Deere factories!) Hansen's is a 7th generation farm that is determined to last for many more generations! A working dairy farm, they offer tours that include the chance to milk a cow, feed a calf, and even make butter (which is then spread on crackers for a delicious snack!). Several years back they took the plunge to expand into milk processing and bottling, and now they furnish extremely fresh, pasturized (but not homogenized) milk to many area stores and restaurants. Folks with little experience or knowledge about farming will appreciate the easy going and informative tour; people who currently farm will appreciate that this family has found a way to add value to their products by getting better, not bigger. They also make 30 different flavors of ice cream that are absolutely delicious! check out wwww.hansendairy.com for more information. It's not a slick or fancy tourist trap, but a real dairy family trying to make a living making quality products. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience.