Farm Visits & Baby Animals
Spring is baby animal season. Here is where to hold a lamb and see the fiber arts in action.
Maine’s agricultural roots run deep. In April and May, barns fill with lambs, goat kids, and calves, and many farms open their doors for hands-on visits. Later in summer and fall, farm stands and u-pick fields take over, letting you meet the growers behind your food.
Best Times to Go
- Spring (April-May): Baby animal season at sheep, goat, and alpaca farms; maple houses may still be boiling early April.
- Early summer (June): Strawberries and the first farm stands open; fewer crowds than peak season.
- Mid-late summer: Blueberries, raspberries, and vegetables abound; dairy creameries run ice cream windows.
- Fall: Apple orchards and pumpkin patches; farm stores stock cider, squash, and late-season greens.
Can’t-Miss Farm Experiences
Maine Fiber Tour
Often held in the fall, but many alpaca and sheep farms welcome visitors in spring to see the new babies and learn about shearing and spinning.
- Pineland Farms (New Gloucester): A 5,000-acre working farm campus with daily animal barn visits, walking trails, and a top-notch market and creamery.
- Smiling Hill Farm (Westbrook): Known for its glass-bottled milk, petting zoo, and homemade ice cream; easy add-on to a Portland trip.
- Abenaki Alpaca Farm (Sanford): Offers close-up alpaca encounters and a shop selling yarn and knit goods from the herd.
Open Farm Day (Statewide)
Held annually in July, over 100 farms open for free tours, cheese tastings, wagon rides, and demonstrations. Check the state farm bureau map, pick a region, and build a loop with 3-5 stops so you are not rushed.
U-Pick and Farm Stands
- Wild blueberries (late July-August): Look for low-bush fields Down East and in the midcoast; call ahead because ripening varies by microclimate.
- Strawberries (late June-July): Southern and central Maine fields open first; arrive early before fields get picked out.
- Vegetable farm stands: Many operate honesty boxes; bring small bills and a cooler for greens, eggs, and cheese.
Kennebec Valley Farm Loop
Just east of Augusta, Whitefield, Chelsea, and Dresden host roadside stands and sugarhouses along the Sheepscot and Kennebec corridors. Pair a market stop with river views, then continue to Gardiner or Wiscasset for lunch.
How to Visit Respectfully
- Check hours: Many small farms are family-run with limited public hours. Confirm before driving.
- Parking and gates: Park where directed, close any gates you open, and keep kids from climbing fences.
- Hands off unless invited: Animals may be stressed by overhandling. Let farmers guide interactions.
- Biosecurity: Clean shoes before/after visits and avoid visiting multiple livestock farms in one day if there are disease concerns.
- Support the farm: Buy something—a dozen eggs, a skein of yarn, a pint of syrup. It keeps the farm open to visitors.
Good Pairings for a Day Out
- Freeport/Brunswick: Combine a morning at a dairy or vegetable farm with an L.L.Bean stop and a coastal walk.
- Portland area: Hit Smiling Hill or Pineland, then breweries or beaches nearby.
- Midcoast: Pair blueberry or vegetable stands with a Pemaquid Point or Camden Hills hike.
- Western Maine: Visit maple houses and orchards around Bethel, then drive the Grafton Notch scenic byway.