Families across Arizona are discovering wonderful ways to connect with local farms and farm life by visiting family-owned operations that welcome visitors. These spots offer hands-on chances to see working farms up close—picking fresh produce, enjoying seasonal festivals, touring fields and orchards, feeding animals, or simply soaking in the fresh air and open spaces. It is a relaxing escape that helps kids and adults alike understand where food comes from, often just a drive away.
Here are two standout family farms—one in northern Arizona and one in southern Arizona—that provide welcoming experiences for the public.
Mortimer Farms
Founded in Dewey-Humboldt by Gary and Sharla Mortimer, who both grew up on farms (Gary in Iowa corn and soybeans, Sharla in Arizona cotton), this operation began as a nursery in Prescott in 1996. In 2003, they bought a ranch to raise cattle in a rural setting for their kids and later revitalized a historic farm nearby under a lease, buying it outright in a 2020 miracle auction that kept it out of developers’ hands.
Now in their fifth year as a full farm, three of their four children work there: Ashlee serving as CEO (after time away at the University of Arizona and Arizona Cattle Growers), Kayla running Wildflower Hair Co. onsite, and a son managing the ranch. Gary handles production/irrigation, while Sharla keeps everything running.
The family prioritizes connecting people to their food through a diverse mix of activities: farm tours, you-pick experiences, barn dances, farm-to-table dinners, festivals, a farm park, workshops, private events, a market, an online store, and seasonal passes. Their pumpkin festival is the biggest draw, growing more than 175,000 pumpkins—after which cattle graze the leftovers (natural dewormers that also fertilize soil).
“We want to show a real-life farm—the good, bad, hard, and lovely,” Ashlee said. “People come yearning for connection to the land and food. Kids can see eggs collected, touch dirt, and eat blackberries off the bush.”
It’s about raising families in a less screen-focused world while explaining seasons and why certain foods aren’t available year-round.
Open daily year-round (8 a.m. to 6 p.m., closed Thanksgiving and Christmas, and closed at 2 p.m. on Christmas Eve), with a deli-market selling farm-fresh produce, meats, dairy partnerships, jarred items, and more.
The farm is located at 12907 E. State Route 169, Dewey, Arizona, 86327. For more information, call (928) 830-1116 or visit the farm’s website at MortimerFarmsAZ.com.
Annie’s Apple Orchard
This multigenerational family farm in Wilcox, owned and operated by John and Annie Holcomb along with their children Matt, Alicia, and Mandy; son-in-law David Kirkendall; and John’s father, Don, is celebrating 40 years. With no prior farming background, the family moved from Phoenix in the early 1980s, planted 6,000 apple trees, and learned as they went, adding peaches, pears, and more.
The high-elevation Sulphur Springs Valley (about 4,300 feet) brings warm days and cool nights ideal for fruit, although challenges such as frost (March through May), hail, and careful water conservation keep things real. They water directly at the roots and only at night to save resources.
What started as a commercial you-pick has grown into a beloved destination: hayrides to the orchard, a huge corn maze, festivals, the Orchard Grill, Apple Annie’s Attic country gift shop, and a year-round bakery with pies, donuts, apple cider donuts, jams, and jellies. The Country Store and lunch restaurant stay open even when the orchard is seasonal. There are no admission or parking fees—just pay for what you pick.
“It’s a true family business,” Mandy Kirkendall said. “We do it all, and we always have.”
The family sees it as sharing the farm lifestyle they love with thousands of visitors. It’s cooler here (15 degrees cooler than Phoenix, and 10 degrees cooler than Tucson), offering a slower pace and wide-open fresh air—perfect for a day trip or weekend getaway.
The Orchard (Fruit) is located at 2081 W Hardy Road, Willcox, Arizona, 85643, and can be reached at (520) 384-2084. The Country Store is located at 1510 N Circle I Road, Willcox, Arizona, 85643, and can be reached at (520) 766-2084. The farm’s Produce and Pumpkins section is located at 6405 W Williams Road, Willcox, Arizona, 85643, and can be reached at(520) 384-2084.
For more information, visit the farm’s website at AppleAnnies.com.
