Camping with the Cows -

RAW Farms – Fresno, California

I had the wonderful opportunity to Camp with the Cows hosted by RAW FARM in Fresno, California. Read all about my experience on the farm and how you can join in next time with Camping with the Cows!

The experience – Camping with the Cows

I first heard about Camping with the Cows through my sister-in-law who was going to attend with her family and some friends. I decided to join in, because I wanted to have some fun too! I had no idea what to expect, I had never camped out on a farm before.

The event was a two-day, one night stay on the RAW Farm that included games, a live band, coffee, wine, small charcuterie cup, taco bar for dinner, cereal for breakfast, milk chugging contest, wood for bonfires, and a tour of their farm.

Farm-ward Bound

It took me about 3.5 hours to drive from Los Angeles to Fresno, where the farm is located. I loved the scenic drive and got some much-needed music time. (One of my favorite things to do is go for drives while listening to music.) So, it was 3.5 hours of bliss.

I took the 5 freeway all the way up and made a stop in Bakersfield to pick up lunch and refuel. It was smooth sailing the whole way but was definitely ready to not be sitting any longer.

Saturday – Arriving on the farm

The set arrival time was set at 11:00 am, which gave everyone attending time to set up their campsites before festivities kicked off. This started with the releasing of the cows to pasture around 2:00pm.

I arrived around 12:30 pm and was welcomed onto the farm with an itinerary, trash bag (which I thought was thoughtful to ensure the campsites stayed cleaned), and a list of RAW goods for purchase. I got to choose to camp on either the calm side or the party side. I opted for the party side, where the rest of my group was located.

Setting up

I found my spot and got my tent set up along with my popup canopy for shade, camping chair, and hammock. I borrowed solar powered path lights from one of my brothers and set those up around my campsite. It sounds a bit extra, but it does help at night to see where to walk and looks pretty cool too.

Not sure about you, but I can no longer sleep directly on the ground without crippling myself. I invested in a good air mattress and got that set up next. Because I camp and go on road trips with my kids multiple times a year. I also invested in a small portable battery which is perfect for charging phones, lanterns, inflating air mattresses and so on. I would have pulled a Tom from Parks and Rec. and brought an ice cream machine, but I was told that would be too much…. I digress.

Saturdays “Festivus for the Rest of Us“

First things first, boba, tea, and coffee truck. Oddly enough, I ended up ordering lemonade. It was hot, I just finished setting up camp and an ice-cold lemonade sounded refreshing. I forgot the name of the drink, but it had fresh raspberries from the farm with the perfect balance of sweet and tart. It was delicious! While in line for my drink, the cows had been released to pasture and it was so neat to watch all the cows come greet us.

There was a giant chess game set up, slides for the kiddos, beanbag toss, some footballs to throw around, different sized tractors to climb in and honk the horns, and tug of war! I ended up participating in the women’s tug of war game which was so much fun. I had not played in so long and got the prized rope burned hands to show off after too.

Coffee, Wine, and Cheese Oh My!

I eventually got my coffee! Friends in the group I was camping with are coffee shop owners. They brought their coffee goods and after purchasing some RAW milk, made us all specialty coffee. It was SO good. Check out their coffee shop if you are in their neck of the woods, Corridor Flow Coffee Shop: Located in the South Bay at 24614 Narbonne Ave, Lomita 90717

RAW Farm also partnered with a local winery to provide guests with a charcuterie cone paired with red and white wine. The charcuterie cone came with 2 different types of crackers, RAW cheese cubes, and an olive. It was a nice little tasting that I enjoyed very much.

Name a Baby Cow

Okay, one of the coolest things I got to do on this trip was name a baby cow! They let you pick a name (there’s a chart that lists all their named cows to make ensure names are not duplicated) I had a name in mind and thankfully it was not taken. They had me write it down on a tag with a corresponding number and ta da! A new baby cow will now be named, Chopper. This is the name of my favorite droid from Star Wars. It was a must.

You Had Me at Tacos

Eventually we could smell that mouthwatering barbecue goodness and shortly after heard that dinner was being served. There was a long line that we tried to wait out, but we became too hungry to stay patient. There was a live band playing some great country songs which kept us entertained while waiting.

We made it to the front of the line and there was a choice of either street tacos or a bowl. I opted for the bowl which had rice and your choice of meat. There were two tables full of condiments with different types of salsas, onions, cilantro, beans, grilled peppers, and jalapenos. It was flavorful and oh so yummy.

Let’s Groove Tonight

After dinner, I walked over to the stage where the live band was playing. It was a good time listening to the music and watching the sunset. I was going to head back to camp until one of my friends mentioned line dancing! I love line dancing and got excited, but quickly realized there was no line dancing happening. So, before someone could tell me twice, I started the electric slide which grew to everyone around chiming in! It was a blast!

Can I have S’more please?

The farm provided a giant pile of firewood and helped get the bonfires started. Our group circled in and started roasting some marshmallows for s’mores. Now I love the idea of s’mores, but I am not a fan for many different reasons. One; they are messy, and I do not like my hands getting sticky. Two; the ratio of chocolate to marshmallow to graham cracker is off. Three; biting into a s’more is annoying trying to fit that tower into your mouth and then the graham crackers just break all over. Four; way too sweet. Is that even a thing? YES. I enjoy marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate, but let’s do this right.

Words of Wisdom

In middle school, a teacher once told me that if I had an issue with something, don’t waste time complaining about it, find a solution to fix it. So, I give to you The S’more Muffin! I found a fantastic recipe for S’more muffins, but it’s like a mix between a S’more and Banana Bread. It’s perfect. (I will add the recipe in the information area at the bottom of this post.)

I had premade the muffins the night before and put them in the ice chest for the trip. Once the bonfire was ready, I passed out my “S’more” to my brother, sister-in-law, and nephews. I watched as my brother didn’t eat my muffin, but instead stick it on a roasting skewer and put it over the fire. As odd as it may have looked, it was genius. I decided to try it myself. The marshmallows in the muffin gave it a nice caramelization. The chocolate melted a bit and the muffin warmed up enough to make it taste like it was fresh out of the oven.

That first bite was one of the best things I have eaten while camping. This is now my go to for camping and other outdoor excursions where bonfires are present.

Rise and Shine

Woke up to a crisp and cool morning, looking forward to my first cup of coffee. I am not a cereal for breakfast kind of person anymore. I need protein to start my day, so I had premade breakfast burritos for myself, my brother and his wife. I brought a single burner camping stove and fired it up, put a pot on top and added in the burritos wrapped in aluminum foil.

While those were warming up, I walked with my brother over to the main center where the pour over coffee and cereal was being provided. The coffee line took some time, but it was well worth the wait. I got my pour over coffee and added in RAW creamer and some sugar.

Back at camp, the bonfire was blazing again. We sat around it with our coffee and breakfast burritos. (Not to mention Tapatio and Cholula sauce. Can’t go anywhere without those two. ) It was a good start to the day.

Sunday Morning Activities

Once everyone had their fill of breakfast, the activities began. There was a RAW milk chugging competition that did not disappoint, along with a walking tour of the farm. I noticed that every cow I saw had a tag with their name on it. I cannot wait to see Chopper next time I visit!

At the end of the tour, they opened their shop one last time and I was able to purchase some milk, cheese, and a super neat enamel mug with their logo on it.

I headed back to the campsite, packed up and headed home.

Final Thoughts

I absolutely loved this one-night camping with the cows. It was fun, eventful, and great for the whole family. I would love to have more than one night, maybe two nights to really take in everything that was going on and being outdoors on the farm. From the activities to the food that was provided, it was a well thought-out, well-planned event. I cannot wait for the next one and I hope to see you there too!

Details to plan this adventure:

When, where, how? Follow them on Instagram and check out their website to find out when they will be hosting the next Camping with the Cows! Last I heard, they will be hosting it every 2 years. So, stay connected to make sure you know when it will happen again. You do not want to miss out!
Address: 7221 S Jameson Ave, Fresno, CA 93706
Parking fee: Free
Entrance Fee: $30 per person (tickets must be purchased online ahead of time)
Hours: Saturday check in at 11:00 am to Sunday check out at 12:00 pm
Restrooms: Outhouses were available with hand washing stations
Accessibility: accessible outhouses were not available. I saw people using strollers and wagons, but it was a bumpy ride with the dirt roads. (It was doable though) The farm provided cart rides to transport visitors around.
Shade: No shade, bring your own to keep out of the sun during the day.
Trails/Miles: All farmland, so no hiking trails in the area. The walking tour to the cows was less than a mile round trip. Nothing too crazy, just watch out for mud.
Difficulty: Easy
Pet Friendly: Pets are welcome, but dogs must always be kept on a leash and with their owner.
Picnic Area: There were hay bales in the main center for sitting and in the kids play area. Bring your own table and chairs if you need.
Food/Water: A water refill station was available for all guests. (cups were not provided to keep litter to a minimum, so bring your own reusable bottle) Pour over coffee was provided Sunday morning along with an array of cereal and RAW Milk. A taco plate/bowl for dinner was provided to guests Saturday evening. A coffee/tea/boba truck was available both days to purchase drinks.

Camping with the Cows