Looking for a fun and educational fall experience for the family? Look no further.

Ard’s Dairy Farm in Ruth has taken fall fun to a whole new level.

Every Saturday in October, Pat Ard, his daughter, Julie Ard James, and their family open Ard’s Dairy Farm to the public.

With more than 350 visitors so far this month, Ard said the response to the farm’s fall activities has been positive.

“The first two Saturdays went real well,” he said. “We have had a lot of good response this year.”

Families and small groups are welcome to pick pumpkins in the farm’s pumpkin patch and stroll through the farm’s corn maze, which was cut from a field of corn to resemble a tractor and the name of the farm.

“I remember I wanted this thing to grow fast when we started, but Lord, I’m glad it grew at the pace it did,” Ard said. “We have just been trying to keep it educational, as always.”

In addition, visitors can enjoy a corn pool, zip line, the Moo Choo Train, tours of the dairy barn and a playground from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Saturday in October. Admission for the daytime activities is $9 per person and includes one pumpkin. Children 2-years-old and under are free, but they don’t get a pumpkin.

The zip line is an additional $1 a ride.

Starting at 6 p.m., the farm will host a bonfire and trips through the maze using flashlights. Tickets for the evening festivities are $7, and will stop being sold at 9 p.m.

Extra pumpkins are available for purchase anytime for $1.50.

Concessions provided by Ard’s Dairy Farm will be available throughout the day. Picnics are also welcome.

This Saturday only, Sonia Belle Photography will be offering fall mini photography sessions at the farm. The session will include 7 to 10 edited images. To schedule an appointment during your trip to Ard’s Dairy Farm, call 601-248-2755 or email soniabellephotography@yahoo.com.

The farm is also open by appointment throughout every week of the year for field trips, youth groups and birthday parties.

Ard’s Dairy Farm opened to visitors five years ago.

“We started the agri-tourism business to diversify our income,” Ard said. “I get a blessing out of it myself by just being able to offer this to people. Even in rural America now, there are kids that don’t have the opportunity to visit a farm.”

Ard and his family have tried to make the activities educational.

“The Ards decided to add agri-tourism to their operation to educate children and the public about the day-to-day activities it takes to run a farm,” Lincoln County Extension Agent Rebecca Bates said.

“We’re four or five generations away from the farm,” Ard said. “We’ve have children come out here and when you ask them, ‘Where does your milk come from?’ they say, ‘The grocery store.’”

Ard’s Dairy Farm is located at 3479 Orchard Lane SE in Ruth. For more information, call or text 601-606-8418, or email ardsdairyfarm@hotmail.com.