[upbeat music] - We are at Patterson Farms.

[music continues] - We're currently a fourth generation farm here.

- [Teresa] The roots of the farm go back to 1919 and a man by the name of James A. Patterson.

- He originally was growing cotton, I think in the early '30s.

His cotton crop was affected by the boll weevils, and he started growing his first tomato crop then.

- [Teresa] His descendants continued to grow fruits and vegetables on the same property, not far off Highway 150 between Salisbury and Mooresville.

- [Michelle] We have about 1,100 acres, and about 600 of that is in production.

- [Teresa] The Pattersons opened their farm to the public in the 1970s, giving people the chance to experience things only farmers once did.

- We found that people are several generations removed from the farm at this time.

- [Teresa] Their solution.

- We grow about 90 acres of strawberries, so we like to offer pick your own experiences and events and activities that bring people out to the farm.

- Yeah, not just going to the grocery store, getting 'em.

They are better fresh picked.

- This is where families can come out and pick strawberries.

We have two container sizes.

We have a half busket that's about two and a half pounds, or a busket that's about five pounds of strawberries.

- Our typical season is mid to late April to the first week or 2nd of June.

What prevents us from having them longer is heat.

They quit producing in our area whenever it gets really warm.

- [Teresa] And everybody knows the best type of strawberry to pick.

- Red and juicy.

- [Michelle] We also grow pumpkins and have a corn maze, so we do that in the fall.

With our crop rotation, we do hope to be able to bring back some pick your own tomatoes this year.

- We have had a wonderful time.

We've been to the strawberry farms to pick strawberries.

Then we came over and we're playing at this playground, which is so much more than a playground.

One, two, three, go.

- [Michelle] Where people can, you know, do our big slide.

- [Teresa] Plus so much more, and in 1994, they stepped up the learning experience by offering tours.

- We started doing agritourism, actually before agritourism was a word.

- My mom calls it the agmagination station.

- Like, now we have a little farmer's market for them to do pretend play on the playground.

We have a little vet center.

It's all centered around ag careers.

- My mom's mom, my grandmother, was a school teacher, and so my mom's always kind of had a passion for education from that.

- [Teresa] More hands-on fun continues in the farm's barnyard.

- I feel like my kids are going to want to see the animals for longer than we even have time today.

- [Victoria] Currently, we have a lot of baby animals since it's spring, which is one of the best times of year.

- [Teresa] The learning possibilities are endless.

- We start in March with a tour on the importance of dirt and soil.

We do a tour in April that is called Farmer for the Day.

So they get the concept of what a farmer may do during the day.

They'll sell their wares, and they'll use that to buy ice cream or a treat.

- [Teresa] And they've got all kinds of treats like chocolate covered strawberries.

- Mm.

- [Teresa] Strawberry cider donuts, and freshly made strawberry ice cream.

- We make strawberry ice cream all year round.

- [Teresa] They make other flavors as well.

- We have butter pecan, cookies and cream, strawberry, which of course is made with our strawberries, vanilla, and chocolate, and we do things like souvenir shakes.

- [Teresa] And one of the favorites, of course, is with their strawberries.

- [Victoria] We've got scoops of homemade strawberry ice cream made with our strawberries.

So we're adding fresh milk here, next we blend.

So this milkshake is served in a souvenir plastic cup, so it's got our logo on it.

We add the fresh strawberry milkshake.

We also have the rim of the cup swirled in icing with sprinkles.

We'll top it with a straw that has our fresh strawberries on it, and of course, plenty of whipped cream, and then we'll drizzle strawberry syrup on top.

[bright music] - [Teresa] Patterson Farms ice cream shop is located in their market, where you'll also find fresh flowers, plants, and more foods.

- [Michelle] And we like to have a a variety of things, so if it's something that we don't grow, we try to get that from other local farmers.

- [Teresa] It's an experience you can't find just anywhere.

- It's definitely worth the trip just to come out here and spend an entire day.

- You know, we just hope that people have a great time here, they get to connect with each other, just enjoy the farm, the country, maybe learn a little bit more about agriculture than when they arrive here.

[upbeat music] - [Teresa] Patterson Farm and Market is at 10390 Caldwell Road in Mount Ulla.

That's between Mooresville and Salisbury.

The market and ice cream shop are open Tuesday through Sunday.

To find out more about farm tours and other activities, visit their website at visitpattersonfarm.com.