Local farms keep the county’s agricultural heritage alive and well with festivals, fresh goods and hands-on agricultural adventures.
While driving through some parts of Washington County, it is not uncommon to pass by cattle and horses grazing on rolling hills, green fields dotted with pumpkin vines or apple trees, and farm stands bursting with goods like fresh eggs, baked goods, vegetables and more.
At its heart, Washington County is farm country, and as we mark our nation’s 250th anniversary, no one deserves to be celebrated more than our county’s farmers who make up the backbone of our country.
As agritourism continues to surge in popularity, farms like Trax Farms in Finleyville continue to flourish by hosting events like wine festivals, craft shows and even music festivals in addition to the annual Fall Festival, Sunflower Festival and festivals surrounding pick-your-own seasons like blueberries and strawberries, all of which draw thousands to Washington County each year for some fun on this historic farm. Even when an event is not going on, visitors come from far and wide to shop for fresh goods, plants, décor and even antiques inside the farm’s expansive market.
Pick-your-own experiences are at their best at nearby Simmons Farm in McMurray. First opened in the mid-1800s, this family-owned farm grows and sells so much fresh produce and other goods in its market that it eventually expanded to a second location nearby on Route 19. The farm is popular for its pick-your-own flowers, peaches, apples, pumpkins and strawberries and is also host to a bustling annual fall festival that’s become a yearly must-do for visitors and locals alike.
2026 marks the 50th anniversary of The SpringHouse in Eighty Four, and the family behind the farm is celebrating half a century of success with a packed calendar. Spring welcomes the return of farm tours, where visitors can meet dairy cows, bottle-feed calves and watch milk being processed in the farm’s on-site processing facility. In the fall, The SpringHouse’s Fall Fun on the Farm festival attracts thousands for a full day of activities, but perhaps the most famous offering at The SpringHouse is its homestyle food and famous chocolate milk, which comes highly recommended by anyone who has visited in the past.
If one is looking for a step above the traditional farm experience, The Crafty Alpaca in Avella is the place to be. Learn all there is to know about alpacas by feeding them, petting them and even taking them on a woodland hike before stopping by the farm store to check out a wool-spinning demonstration and load up on alpaca wool socks, hats, clothing and more.
Speaking of unique experiences, Rustic Rock Maple Farm should also be on any visitor’s to-do list. Late winter is peak season for this 108-acre maple farm, which harvests a whopping 77,000 gallons of maple sap per season from its 3,000 or so taps before it is boiled down into USDA-certified organic maple syrup. Visitors can take a tour of the maple farm for free from April to November to learn about the maple syrup process and its byproducts like maple sugar.
If that is not enough for a lover of all things agriculture, consider taking a trip out to Bedner’s Farm & Greenhouse in McDonald to shop rows and rows of flowers or pick-your-own produce like beets, cucumbers, eggplant, zucchini and more, or stop by Shilling Hill Farm in Washington for a home-cooked meal. Take a tour of a working farm and meet all kinds of farm animals at Geary Farm in McDonald, shop for farm-fresh milk at Linden Creek Dairy Farm in Canonsburg or even take a beekeeping lesson at Bedillion Honey Farm in Hickory.
