As families seek authentic, rural experiences and a connection to local, organic food that’s deeper than a stop at the farmers market. For small-scale farmers, welcoming visitors and sharing their knowledge of rotational goat-grazing or cow-milking techniques is not only fun, it provides needed extra cash. On a typical farm stay, you can help with daily hands-on chores and commune with barnyard animals, and then spend the night in digs that range from rustic yurts to posh bed-and-breakfast rooms. You’ll smell the earth in the air (probably manure, too), cake your boots with mud and (like us) get some hay stuck in your hair — if you want to. Farm-stay hosts are eager to share their knowledge with curious children, and chores are both educational and optional.