Welcome to our SC Agritourism Passport Series, where we take you on a tour of all of the farms on the passport for our region, starting with Part 1, Anderson County! Be on watch for Part 2 and then Part 3, so you’ll have something to look forward to during this #winterwanderland season. We can’t wait for you to get out and explore the great outdoors and all that the Upcountry offers.
Participating in the Passport program is simple! Pick any farm as a starting point (we’ve listed them below in ABC order by city), and ask for a free passport book when you go. As you visit the farms, make sure to get the books stamped before leaving. The more stamps you collect, the more prizes you win. Ten stamps earn you a Certified SC hat; 20 Stamps are a Certified SC t-shirt; and 30 Stamps mean a Certified SC tumbler! Once the passport is completed, send it to the SC Agritourism Association, and they’ll ship you the prizes you earned.
Anderson, SC
- Denver Downs Farm – Location: 1515 Denver Road, Anderson, SC, 29625.
- This historic farm has been proudly owned by the Garrison family since 1869. It started with cotton, then dairy, and now offers agri-tourism and entertainment! They are best known for their sunflower fields and summer festivals surrounding them. The farm also hosts fall fests every weekend seasonally with pumpkins, mazes, bonfires, and live music nights.
- Split Creek Farm – Location: 3806 Centerville Road, Anderson, SC, 29625.
- Split Creek Farm is a Gold medal winner in national competitions for their goat cheeses, fudge, and milk! Their Grade A Dairy is in a barn designed and built by the owners to include a kid nursery along with the milking and cheese operations. Their farm is open for self-guided tours and visitation, (Friday & Saturday, 10 am – 6 pm), and the Farm Shop is open (Monday -Saturday 10 am – 6 pm) where you can purchase products utilizing goat’s milk and other locally made goods.
Belton, SC
- JEB Berries Farm Belton – Location: 270 Cannon Bottom Road, Belton, SC, 29627.
- This family-owned blueberry farm has over 450 bushes and a variety of fresh fruits in their orchards seasonally. No pesticides are used! U-pick is $18/gal and We-pick is $22/gal. The farm is handicapped accessible and payment is cash/check only. The hours seasonally (June- July) are Monday – Saturday 8 am – 4 pm.
Pendleton, SC
- Bart Garrison Agriculture Museum of SC – Location: 120 History Lane, Pendleton, SC 29670
- Exhibits at this museum focus on both the history of agriculture and how that legacy affects future agricultural practices and healthy living. The museum hosts classes, workshops, and demos on agriculture-related skills. These include the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) of agriculture; Crafts like chair caning and basket making; Sustainable practices such as organic vegetable and meat production; and Life skills – home preservation, soap making, etc.
Pelzer, SC
- Hurricane Creek Farms – Location: 220 Moores Mill Rd. Pelzer, SC 29669
- Now in its 20th year, Hurricane Creek Farms continues to grow and sell quality hydroponic produce, aged pasture-raised Angus beef from their herd, stone ground grits, and cornmeal from several heritage corns. In the past, they’ve grown tomato plants, lettuce, strawberry plants, and a cycle of cucumber and pepper plants. They grind both yellow pencil cob corn and trucker’s favorite white cornmeal grits on their grist mill from Meadows Mills, both of which are heritage varieties and are GMO-free.
Townville, SC
- Lucky Acres Farm – Location: 1024 Millford Rd., Townville, SC, 29689
- If you’re looking for interactive farm tours with animals, Lucky Acres Farm is home to Gloria and Joe Williams, their many alpacas, and a large amount of livestock! Lucky Acres hosts annual Open House Sundays in December. Family farm tours are available by appointment at 11:00 am and 3:00 pm whenever possible; call in advance to book yours (864-903-1856). They also are members of the Upstate Farm Tour circuit, which is held in June; in 2023 it was the second Sunday from 1:00-6:00 pm. They also have a great gift shop with handmade products spun and created with alpaca fleece, from the softest yarn to dog toys, sweaters, knit hats, and more! You can rent an Airbnb on the property as well.
Stay tuned for Part 2. Until then, get out and explore during the #winterwanderland season.