by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

Just off Monteagle’s Main Street, hidden from view by a grassy field that camouflages Cove Creek Farm’s existence, a magical world awaits visitors where agriculture, farming, and the food we eat take on a whole new meaning. Driving in visitors are greeted by 150 plump, white turkeys who have never known cages grazing in the field, the first hint of something unique in store. On Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Cove Creek welcomes families to join them in learning, exploring, and having fun.

A highlight of visiting Cove Creek is taking a hayride with farmer Matt Sparacio and learning about the farm’s nontraditional practices. “Our goal is to constantly be improving the soil and putting back into the soil, instead of taking away minerals and nutrients,” Sparacio explains to his wagonload of riders as they tour, pointing out the cattle grazing on the rear of the farm that day. “We rotationally graze our animals, so the grass gets time to rest, the manure gets incorporated into the soil, and we’re storing carbon long term. The goal is to leave the land better than when we got it. Rather than clearing the land for pasture, we’re developing 80 acres of silvopasture with five to eight trees per acre which provides shade for the animals during the day and enough sunlight for the grasses to grow.”

Cove Creek offers hayrides five times per day. After the hayride, guests can visit the petting zoo and lure the pony, donkey, and goats to become friends, feeding the animals alfalfa pellets and shortgrass for treats.

The vast play area features a 25-foot tall pirate ship with a swaying bridge and fireman’s pole for the seriously brave, a bounce pad (and, yes, parents can bounce too), ropes course, hay bale climbing tower, and more, for hours of fun. Cove Creek sought inspiration from materials used around the farm, turning tires into a jungle gym and using huge plastic culverts for human size hamster wheels, an unusual play activity popular with kids and adults alike.

The $12 general admission fee is for all day. Guests can leave the grounds for lunch and return. The farm has special group rates for school classes, birthday parties, weddings, and other events.

Cove Creek is open year-round. For December, Cove Creek has plans for a holiday lighting display, and in the spring, visitors will be able to bottle feed baby animals. This autumn until Oct. 28, Cove Creek is selling pumpkins of all shapes and sizes, including uniquely colored Cinderella pumpkins, especially sought after for pumpkin decorating contests.

Why did Matt Sparacio and his wife Laureen decide to “go public” with their farm? “The labor demands of regenerative agriculture are so high, the cost of labor eats most of your profits,” Matt said. “The profit margins on agritourism are much higher. It allows us the flexibility and freedom to use the practices we feel are important. We don’t have to compromise on those practices to make a profit.”

“And we get to teach people about regenerative agriculture and its benefits,” Laureen chimed in, sharing in Matt’s enthusiasm about the sustainable farming methods Cove Creek employs.

“People start to understand why our meat prices are higher than the grocery store,” Matt pointed out.

The 179-acre farm extends all the way to the rest area on I-24. “The land has been a farm since 1907,” Matt said. “Touring the acreage, people can see the impact the chickens are having, the impact the turkeys are having. They see the grass coming back where the cows grazed last week. You can only see our cows every once in a while, from the highway, because it takes 60 days of rotation for the cattle herd to make it across the entire farm.”

Next year, Cove Creek hopes to have an on-site food truck offering burgers, pork bratwurst, and carnitas made with meat raised on the farm.

To learn more or to buy meat raised at Cove Creek, visit their website at <www.covecreekfarm.com>. Or better still visit, the farm and see what farming that cares about the earth and the animals is all about. You’ll be glad you did.