Sweetwater Valley Farm Tour — Philadelphia, Tennessee

Discover the Sweetwater Valley Farm Tour in Tennessee

Step onto a modern dairy farm in Tennessee’s “Sweetwater Valley” and explore how milk moves from pasture to product at Sweetwater Valley Farm. This guided farm tour highlights a high-tech robotic milking facility, on-site cheese-making processes, and ends with a cheese tasting. It’s ideal for families, food lovers and curious travelers wanting a behind-the-scenes look at dairy agriculture.
Why it’s special: Sweetwater Valley Farm is one of the first in Tennessee to use a robotic milking system—eight robots milking 500 Holstein cows—while also making farm-stead cheeses on-site. The blend of cutting-edge dairy tech and traditional cheese-craft gives visitors a unique farm-tour experience.

History/Story of Sweetwater Valley Farm

Sweetwater Valley Farm has roots in the rural dairy region of Southeast Tennessee. Over the years, it has grown into a modern, vertically integrated farm and cheese-maker, committed to both sustainability and quality. The farm’s adoption of robotic milking and its own on-site cheese-making facility highlight a forward-thinking approach while honouring the area’s agricultural heritage.

What You’ll See & Do on the Sweetwater Valley Farm Tour

• Guided walkthrough of the robotic milking parlor where robots milk Holstein cows in a high-tech barn

• Overview of the feed, dairy herd care and milk-processing steps that support the farm-stead model

• Observation windows into the cheese-making plant where cheeses such as cheddar and gouda are produced

• Cheese tasting: sample multiple cheeses produced on-site, including curds, flavored cheddars and specialty wheels

• Visit the farm shop and café (optional) for more dairy products, grilled-cheese sandwiches and milkshakes

Hands-On Elements: Cheese tastings, interactive commentary by tour guide on dairy technologies and farm operations
Photo/Video Policy: Photography allowed in public visitor areas; production zones and animal areas may have restrictions.
Souvenirs & Extras: Cheese shop offers the farm’s full cheese lineup, gift items, dairy-themed merchandise.

Pricing of Sweetwater Valley Farm Tour

• Adults: US $16 per person

• Children (ages 3-11): US $10

• Children age 2 and under: Free (no ticket required)

• Tours run in limited slots; group rates and booking required for larger groups.

Practical Info for Visiting Sweetwater Valley Farm

Duration: Approximately 1 hour
Format: Guided tour of dairy facility + cheese tasting
Schedule & Seasonality: Tours offered most Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 11:00 AM and 12:30 PM; groups and off-schedule days may vary.
Audience: Families, food-enthusiasts, agricultural travelers and school groups (note: best for age 8+).
Accessibility: Facility is mostly indoors and climate-controlled; limited walking required.
Safety & Restrictions: Closed-toe shoes recommended; service animals only; tour route includes one brief walk to milking parlor.
Languages: English
Group & School Visits: Available by prior booking; for groups over 30 people additional arrangements needed.
What to Bring/Wear: Comfortable shoes, weather-appropriate clothing if visiting outdoor areas, camera optional.
Facilities: Visitor centre, cheese shop, café, restrooms, parking.
Closures & Downtime: Closed on many Mondays, Thursdays and Sundays per published tour schedule; verify day-of.
Nearby:

• Tennessee Walking Horse events and trails in the Sweetwater Valley

• Outdoor recreation at nearby lakes and parks

• Local cheese shop and café on-site

FAQs About Visiting Sweetwater Valley Farm

Do I need to book in advance?
Yes — tours are limited to 30 people per slot and times fill quickly; arrive ~20 minutes early to check-in.

Are children allowed on the tour?
Yes, children are welcome, though the tour includes technical dairy-equipment areas and is best suited for elementary-age and older.

Will I see cows being milked during my visit?
Yes — the robot milking facility is part of the tour; however, live activity may vary depending on time and herd schedule.

Is cheese tasting included in the tour cost?
Yes — multiple cheeses produced on-site are sampled as part of the tour price.

Is the farm outdoors or mostly indoors?
While much of the tour is indoors and climate-controlled, there is a short transition walk to the robotic milking parlor; comfortable shoes recommended.