Shepard Farm Opening Day

About

Shepard farm is the most recently acquired property of Dodge Nature Center. Shepard Farm (140 acres) offers a setting unique from other Dodge properties, with 100-year-old woods, 1920s-era historic buildings and barns, restored prairie, large community gardens, a bee apiary and animal pastures. After acquiring it from the Wilder Foundation in 2013, Dodge has thoughtfully developed it to serve as a destination for agricultural and environmental education in Washington County.

Shepard Farm will open to the public on April 2, 2022, providing access to a mile-long trail, and nature programs for children, adults and families. The trail will be open sunrise to sunset, 365 days a year. The trailhead is marked by a white kiosk to the west of the parking lot.

The first day of open trails on April 2 will offer guided hikes on the hour, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.—they’re free for the whole family! Thank you to our partner Huellas Latinas for leading a Spanish-language hike at 1 p.m.