Polk County Community, Family & Youth Services

Trip #3 – Madrid/Woodward – Snus Hill Winery, Iowa Arboretum, Northern Prairie (Goat Cheese Farm), Picket Fence Dairy – Lunch at the Corn Crib


When:	Thursday, May 8th, 2008

Depart:	8:15 to 9:15 a.m (West, South or East location to choose from)

Return:	6:45 to 7:45 p.m. (Times are approximate)

Activities:	Snus Hills Winery - is a family owned winery in rural Iowa striving to create wines with a regional identity reflective of our soils and climate using American and French-American varieties. The quiet and peaceful countryside awaits you with pastoral views from expansive decks. Come experience for yourself the mystique and fun of an Iowa vineyard and winery. Corn Crib Restaurant – Menu Selection - a family-owned business, with roots in Central Iowa. Our business operation is right in our backyard, on a farmstead overlooking corn and bean fields. The Corn Crib is where quality and service are key ingredients in everything they do! This will truly be a unique dining experience where the food and the scenery are second to none. Iowa Arboretum – Take a guided tour of the arboretum which was organized in 1966 by the Iowa State Horticultural Society on the society's 100th anniversary. Its mission is to grow, display, identify and study plants for education, research, conservation, esthetics, and for personal enjoyment and recreation. The arboretum contains hundreds of species of trees, shrubs, and flowers arranged in 19 collections (40 acres) as follows: Butterfly Garden, Children's Garden, Columnar Trees, Conifers, Dwarf Garden, Flowering Trees, Founders Grove, Herbs, Hostas, Large Deciduous Trees, Medium Deciduous Trees, Nut Trees, Perennials, Shade Garden, Shrubs, Trees under Utility Wires, Wetland Trees, Windbreak, and Winter Interest. In addition, the arboretum contains more than 300 acres of native timber with woodland trails, ravines, and streams. Donations are always accepted. Northern Prairie - is a partnership involving three women, Wendy Mickle, Connie Lawrance, and Kathy Larson. Their endeavors to craft the finest quality chevre evolved from our hobby of raising goats. Go on a guided tour of the store, the barn and sample different cheese made. Gift Shop available to browse. Picket Fence Creamery - is an 80 acres family owned and operated dairy farm, creamery and country store. Their store offers skim, 2%, and whole milk, butter, ice cream, whipping cream, cheese curds, and their own hormone free beef and pork. The store also markets foods from 80 other Iowa families offering chicken, eggs, buffalo, lamb, elk certified organic foods, locally baked goods, jams, salsa, Iowa wines, Pella foods and baked goods and organically grown vegetables in season. Picket Fence Creamery milk is 100% natural, produces without the use of artificial hormones. The cows live outside in the grass pastures and drink fresh and clean Xenia Rural Water. You are welcome to see the cows, pigs and roam through the vegetable garden and enjoy the sights, smells and sounds of the farm!

Special Notes:	Wear comfortable clothing and shoes. There will be moderate walking/standing involved with this trip. Items to consider bringing: Jacket, umbrella, camera (where permissible) and anything else that would pertain to this trip. **Because we will be eating/munching throughout the day, a dinner meal stop was not scheduled. The group can decide whether or not to stop off at a fast food type restaurant along the way home, not included in the trip)

Cost:	$60.00 (includes transportation, all fees/admissions, lunch, non-alcoholic drink and gratuities) Dinner, desserts, appetizers, additional food items not included in menu selection, alcoholic beverages, gift shop purchases, etc. are at your own expense.

Reservation/Cancellation Deadline:	Friday, April 18th, 2008