Cedar Pond FarmsIt is the question we get most often from guests who have booked a night in one of our cabins or barndominiums: “Can I pet the cows?”
The honest answer is yes — from outside the fences. And there is one important safety note that comes with it, so please read the next section before you wander out to the pasture.
⚠️ First, the fence
Our pasture fences are electrified. Touching one can give you — or your kids, or your friends, or your dog — a genuine shock. It is not a gentle tickle, and it does not care how excited you are about a fluffy cow.
So the rule is simple and it has no exceptions: enjoy the herd from your side of the wire. Do not lean on the fence, do not reach through it, do not let a child hold onto it while they look. If you are visiting with little ones or a dog, keep a hand on them near the pasture.
With that said — go say hello.
What you can do on a farm stay
Plenty, and it is lovely. As an overnight guest you are welcome to:
- Walk out to the pasture fence and see whether the herd drifts over. Highlands are curious animals, and a new face at the fence is interesting to them. Often they come.
- Buy a bucket of feed and carry it out to the fields. Nothing gets a Highland moving quite like the sound of a feed bucket — it is the closest thing we have to a magic trick. Still from outside the fence, please.
- Take all the photographs you like. Morning light on a Highland coat is worth setting an alarm for.
The rest of a farm stay is the quiet, unhurried stuff: collecting eggs, cutting flowers in season, and the self-serve gelato that guests tell us is dangerous to have within walking distance.
The best way to actually get close
If what you really want is to go in with the herd — to pet them, brush that famous coat, feed them from your hand and get the photos that make everyone at home jealous — that happens on a guided cow experience.
A guide takes you into the pasture, introduces you to the cows by name, tells you their stories, and keeps everyone (you and the herd) comfortable and safe. It is a completely different thing from waving at them across a fence, and it is what most guests are picturing when they ask the question.
- Standard Guided Cow Experience — the classic: time in with the herd, grooming, treats and photos.
- Premium Guided Cow Experience — a longer visit with more one-on-one time.
You can see exactly what each one includes, with current pricing, on our Experiences page — and book directly on our website here.
One thing worth knowing before you book
A guided experience is its own booking. It is not an add-on to an overnight stay, and there is no upgrade fee to attach one to a reservation you already have. If you would like to be with the cows during your visit, book the experience for the day you want it — exactly the same way a day visitor would — and we will see you at the gate.
Plenty of our guests do both: a guided experience during the day, then a quiet evening on the porch watching the same cows from a comfortable distance. It is a very good way to spend a day.
The short version
- Pet the cows on a farm stay? From outside the fence, yes.
- Never touch the fence — it is electrified.
- Feed buckets are available and they work.
- To get in with the herd, book a Standard or Premium Guided Cow Experience.
Still not sure which is right for your trip? Ask us — a real person will answer, and we would rather tell you honestly than have you arrive expecting something different.