Purina Farms

This was great family fun! It just so happen we had just rescued a kitten and scored some freebies! They had people dressed up walking around being interactive, some on stilts, a blow up slide & hayrides, Pet the animals, dog shows, trick or treat bags and goodies. He loved the upper barn play area.

Had the pleasure of attending a dog show at Purina Farms and was thoroughly impressed. I wish we had time to explore the full grounds, not just their event center. The facility we were in was top-notch with a large indoor arena for showing and a full cafeteria, as well as a gift shop, information area, etc. They even have in-house catering for some events. The staff were amazing and so friendly, you can tell they all truly enjoyed their jobs. We were welcomed by the entry gate attendant with a big, genuine smile and directed where to go on the grounds. The gentleman at the gift shop was incredibly helpful in getting a specific item that was displayed in a locked cabinet so we could purchase it. That may not seem big, but he worked with several other employees to get a set of backup keys as the off-duty manager had the other set. The person running the register at the cafeteria was the best. She was very engaging with everyone who came through. Our conversation revealed that she is a veteran and works there part-time to help out. Our experience here made us proud that we feed our dogs Purina Pro. We will continue to support this company. Overall, we had a great time, and we look forward to returning in the future.

I can’t stress enough how amazing this place is and it’s FREE!!! Such a cool spot for kids and even adults to be around adorable animals. The animals are well taken care of here. There is a toddler play area on the upper floor in the animal barn. We spent at least 4 hours here watching shows, seeing the animals, and exploring the place on a tractor wagon. The dog show was incredible. We also got a free goodie bag at the door. Staffs were very very welcoming and helpful. I feel like we didn’t get the same treatment elsewhere where we actually had to pay for the activities or general admission.

Fun spot for toddlers! My two year old loves animals, so she had fun visiting the barn. The play area on the upper floor was really cool. She also loved walking through the adoptable pets area and seeing the dog show. There’s not a ton to do, so definitely just an hour or two activity - not a full day.

Super cute place to stop and see while visiting St. Louis. Staff were friendly. Animals are well taken care of. Love the enthusiasm of the trainers at the dog show. No need to bring your wallet, it was completely free! Unless, of course, you want to grab a snack at the concession stand or pick up a souvenir at the gift shop. Definitely recommend.

Such a great place to go. It’s free and so many things to do. You could spend several hours exploring and seeing the animals. My toddler loved the tunnels on the second floor of the barn. They had lots of things to learn and see while there. They have several different activities to see through out the day. The incredible dog show is a favorite of ours.

We took our Boy Scout Troop to Purina Farms. The boys had a blast and didn't want to leave. We milked a cow, took a tractor ride around the entire property, learned about the animals and their care, saw a 30 minute dog trick Frisbee show, checked out and played with the dogs and cats they have for adoption. What a great afternoon! They also have a huge RV camping lot, complete with hookups where you can camp on their property. We're going back in December and they decorate Purina Farms in Christmas decor and lights and you can visit Santa for a photo op, play games, face painting and ride a train. Thank you Purina Farms for such a cool experience.

We arrived just before 10:00 on a Friday and the barn was packed for the cow milking. We explored other areas until it cleared out a bit and still had time to milk the cow and find a seat for the dog show. The show was a lot of fun for all ages and so awesome that it was all free!

Such a fun FREE day! This is a fun spot with or without kids! The free shows include frisbee catching dogs and dogs running the agility course. It's about 15-20 minutes long. The petting zoo in the barn is also fun! The cow milking demo was chaotic so get there early for a good view. There were several puppies and dogs for adoption which is fun because you can play with them but your kids (nieces and nephews) will ask for one no less than 100 times.

I can't stress enough how amazing this place is and it's FREE!!! Such a cool spot for kids and even adults to be around adorable animals. The animals are well taken care of here. There is a toddler play area on the upper floor in the animal barn. We spent at least 4 hours here watching shows, seeing the animals, and exploring the place on a tractor wagon. The dog show was incredible. We also got a free goodie bag at the door. Staffs were very very welcoming and helpful. I feel like we didn't get the same treatment elsewhere where we actually had to pay for the activities or general admission.

Visited purina farms for the DCA dog show. I was amazed by the space used for the dog show, new, spacious, nice AC, plenty of food available & nice purina dog/cat branding. They also have an outdoor agility course, RV area. They have tours available as well. If you ever have a chance to attend a dog show, i highly recommend it!

Came here during a private tour but I absolutely love this place in the summer and everyone should at least bring their kiddos to few of their events. They also to a holiday event that's a lot of fun!! All events are really. I also had my daughter's birthday party here few years back and it was a hit!!!!

How amazing is this place!? So interactive with stuff for a wide range of kids. And clean! Seriously, so nice. Love that they hold cow milking demonstrations and have the incredible dog show. That was so much fun. Even my one year old was clapping along and enjoying the talent. The sweet pet center with adoptable pets was awesome. Love the facilities and the intentionality of the whole space. Will keep coming back!

We went to our first dog show this weekend at Purina Farms event center. Didn't know what to expect. It was great! There's a security guard in the booth as you enter. Very courteous and told us exactly where we needed to go. My daughter uses a wheelchair and it was very easy to get around. The facility is very clean. Lots of snack and lunch choices at the cafe.

Wow, how much fun is Purina Farms. My daughters milked cows and played with all kinds of animals. Totally Free! The "Incredible Dog Show" was the highlight of the day. If you live here or are just visiting this is a great place for family's.

Purina Farms has a great facility for dog shows. Love dogs I highly recommend that you put this on your bucket list as something to do. It's a pretty neat experience. There's a lot of information online so I would look at that first before you come.

Recently went to Purina Farms with a group (3 adults, 6 kids) for a long morning of fun. We arrived just as they opened at 9:30 and stayed busy until leaving at 1pm. We started in the visitor's center and received a great schedule of events with a simple map to follow. We essentially followed along the schedule of events - starting with cow milking, then the dog show by the pool. We spent a long time in the barn looking at all the different animals from cows and horses to chickens and rabbits (for adoption!). We also really enjoyed the top level of the barn where there were a few different play areas. Negatives: fewer bathrooms than one would imagine in a children's place, not very wheelchair/stroller friendly with all the concrete stairs

Puppies, ponies and more at this well known pet food corporate event and tour center. Especially fun is the dog show at 10:30 am and 1:30 pm featuring wonder dog "Sanka" and friends jumping for frisbees into a pool of water.

We were so excited to go see Purina Farms and wanted to make a whole day out of it. As we were driving up we were greeted very kindly by the man working at the gate and we thought the day would be nothing less than great! Unfortunately, we had the complete opposite experience. 1. No ac, poor animals 2. Milking cows is a demo (not hands on) 3. No petting animals 4. Animals for adoption were only allowed to be loved through the fence #FreeFrank Our favorite parts of the day was driving up to Purina and leaving. Overall, would not recommend unless you are seeking a day full of disappointment.

We had a GREAT time at Purina Farms Pups on the Patio! This is my first time to Purina Farms and I loved it! I heard about Pups on the Patio and went online to order tickets which included food and one drink. As soon as the tickets were ordered Purina sent an email with details and confirming the order. The communication was clear and easy to understand where to go. We entered through the visitors center and there were several friendly staff there to greet us and check us into the event. And a bonus, we got some hand sanitizer and a bag of Beggin Strips for the pups. They had plenty of tables on the patio with some covered seating. The food was appetizers and really good. They also had a cash bar if you wanted to purchase additional drinks. There were Frosty Paws frozen treats for the pups, which our dog's devoured! Most of the farm was closed, but we were able to walk the grounds and see the beautiful (and friendly) horses, dog kennel, and the area with the pool and agility training. Everything was so nice and all the staff were friendly and welcoming. am looking forward to visiting again for some of their other events!

The 1 Star is strictly for the EXTREMELY LOUD MYSIC playing before the outdoor dog show. RIDICULOUS! And, I doubt that the animals nearby appreciate it either.

Great fun for all ages, probably best for the 5-10 year old children. Clean, organized and excellent staff!

This is a beautiful property! I can't believe it doesn't cost anything to go there. I would highly recommend to anyone.......

This is such a cool place! They show you how they train dogs, put on a real show for you and have TONS of hands on entertainment to teach the public about responsible and fun pet ownership. Their website is full of great info. We loved the dog shows.

I love Purina Farms. Free entry. See dogs, cats, and farm animals. Walk through a huge barn and ride on a wagon behind a tractor. Best attraction that has kept me coming back year after year....Dog agility/rally. I can't get enough of it. Awesome trainers that have a personal connection to the dogs and show you an entertaining, interaction between the dog and the handler. Don't miss it if you go!!! Gift shop, food/drink, and restrooms all in the main building.

We went here on a beautiful summer day and had a lot of fun. There are things for kids young and old. All animal lovers are welcome :) there are pets for adoption here too. Educational opportunities are throughout from when you walk in, an exhibit center that teaches children the benefits of pets and how to care for them. A nice barn that has ropes for kids to swing on, and our favorite was the petting area. Cows, horses, goats, chickens, pigs and rabbits are there to enjoy. You can even milk the cow if you are there at the right time. A great dog show with trainers that are energetic and fun and such adorable dogs that swim and run an agility course. It was truly a fun time and I would even go back to experience this again!

I love this place they have so much to do. I do kinda feel bad for the pups being locked up most of the day though

First off, I'd like to give credit where credit is due, and that is to the Yelp Talk page, but more importantly to Yelper Picha M. Without his Purina Farms recommendation, I would never have discovered this place. Seriously. I would've NEVER discovered this place. Here's an interesting thing, ask most people who grew up in the St. Louis area, and most everyone will say, "Purina Farms? Oh yeah, I went there on a field trip as a kid." Ask someone like me who is not from STL, and it's, "Purina Farms? Is that the place where they wrote the 'Meow Mix' jingle?" I won't reinvent the wheel with a re-hashed review. The Yelpers before me have all hit the main points in their reviews below. Animals, petting, free. Very cool. Here's what I can offer. I suggest arriving right before the dog exhibition, and starting with that. Once it's over, start your tour of the farm from the Information Center. I noticed that most people arrived about an hour before the show and wandered the grounds first, and then left shortly after the show wrapped up. Doing the show first, and then starting from the front door may help avoid wading through a large group of visitors. Also, if you are looking for a straight shot from the St. Louis Metro, then I-44 is the best way in. However, if you want a scenic drive, coming in on Hwy 100 (Manchester) is quite lovely. Check out their great website, and make a reservation. Purina Farms is a wonderful place to spend the afternoon with the kids!

The cow milking demonstration was interesting and let the kids give it a try. The dog show was entertaining and done well. However, the regular staff around the grounds were not friendly at all! Only the young woman who sat at the entrance desk in the visitor center was welcoming and helpful. We went in the morning before it was crowded and I said 'good morning' to the older blonde woman in the small animal petting area and she turned around the other way- didn't even crack a smile. The woman who opened up the seating area for the dog show- not even a hello. Purina Farms could learn a lot from Grant's Farm and other sites in the St. Louis area- customer service is key.

This is a great day trip for the locals and tourist. They offer tours of their facility and farms, and a dog show. The dog show was very entertaining. We also saw some shows in the facility and there were a lot of animal interaction in the farms; we can touch the rabbits, and large animals. I came here for an event and the food they offered was lacking; there were barely any veggie head options.

Hey hey Purina Farms. Just took a trip to see you guys for a seminar you put on a few weeks ago. This place is amazing. Inside the conference rooms are amazing. A ton of space and great presentations. The farm itself is unbelievable. Looks like a well oiled machine. I love the people who work here and I learned a lot coming on my recent trip. Very great hospitality by Purina as always. It was a pleasure coming out and being invited to see the farm and how you guys operate. Anyone who ever has a chance to visit this place, I strongly recommend that you do!

This is a great place for animal lovers. There's opportunities to watch the dogs perform their obstacle courses, catch frisbees, and dive in water. There's also a barn to see cows, pigs, sheep, chickens, horses, and rabbits, as well as a koi pond. Upstairs in the pond is an area for playing in hay, with a play tunnel system and corn tables. The play area is good, primarily targeted for younger kids. We did not have to pay to do anything.

I love purina farms! They have so many dog friendly events. Its a great place for kids to learn more about animals, animal nutrition, dog sports and more. Love the huge purina event center. It holds most the events including tons of dog show. Most the events are free and its always free to tour the visitors center, watch the dog demos and pet the barn animals.

Come and watch the dog show along with petting bunnies, cats, and dogs. My kids love visiting the faux farm and taking the wagon ride.

4.5 Great experience Highly recommend it The dog agility and frisbee was enjoyed by all! Worth the trip out Great family experience!

I took my grandchildren here and it was absolutely fantastic. Everything is free except for The food and the gift shop. My grand kids got to milk a cow and they loved it. We also got to see a dog show. It was very entertaining and we all loved every minute of it. The upstairs area of the barn has tunnels and a rope swing. The kids had so much fun playing up there and I appreciated that the tunnels were big enough for me to climb through so I could keep an eye on them. The downstairs area of the barn has the barn animals and the petting area. It was in all-around fantastic day and I am so happy we picked to go to purina farms. If you are looking to have an excellent time, then you should definitely go there.

What a great place to bring the kids! We arrived just in time for the dog Frisbee show; and wow do those dogs have skills. The grounds are spacious and clean, and there are no admission fees! There are also cats, horses, sheep and cows. Along with a tutorial on how cows are milked industrially. We had a lovely afternoon out at Purina Farms!

Ok so Purina is amazing to bring your kids and is very fun the dog shows are amazing yet the housing is horrible especially the bunnies there was no hay no Heidi houses which if you know how to treat a bunny is wrong and they have a bunny out for kids to pet but often the bunny was frightened and was sacred the the horses are in tiny pins I am sad and angry

Recently we attempted to go to Grant's Farm and told the kids they'd be able to see some animals. It took longer than expected to get out of the house so by the time we got to Grant's Farm, the line was down the road. Not wanting to wait, we figured we'd try our luck at Purina Farms and headed out 30 miles past St. Louis. It was awesome! First of all, this place is 100% free. It's not "free except for parking" or "free except for this exhibit and that exhibit and then this show costs extra" - it's just free throughout. Although it was a beautiful Sunday afternoon, there were no crowds. We walked through the main visitor's building and then walked out to the bar. We saw cows up close and then got to pet some pigs, rabbits and a chicken. The horses were also so close (but we kept hands away from them since signs said they'd bite). Upstairs there were some toy tractors and rope swings and a little tunnel maze. We made it in time for the cow milking demonstration and kids could pull the udder to try milking (that poor cow - all of those little hands on her udder - ha!). Then we headed over to see the dogs and cats in another building. The dog show was also lots of fun. My sons are 2 and 6 and they had a blast. Older kids might be a little bored but overall it's a great little activity when you don't want to deal with the zoo crowds. Check the schedule before you go - we made it for the last cow milking of the day at 12:30 and the last dog show at 1.

This is probably one of this city's most perfect places to bring kids for a quick weekend trip. It's only about a half hour drive from downtown, and even closer for anyone living west of the city, and it has so much to offer. At the heart of it, this is an animal education center. It's a great place to bring kids to have them learn all about nutrition and pet care, and all the responsibilities of having a pet perhaps before you allow them to have one of their own. There's also some great animal shows as well as a petting zoo in the barn on the premises. A warning: the place is open seasonally and the hours tend to shift. Generally, they are open Mid-March through mid-November. Check the website to see exactly what their hours are. Also, you must make a reservation, but since this place is free for all, the reservation is a technicality I can live with.

I will probably not be fair with this review, since I'm not good with animals. I'm just writing this review since there was (still is) a stl250 cake there. I did catch some sights, such as dogs swimming and a couple competitions. Otherwise, it looks to be a great family-friendly site that is awesome to spend with their pet(s).

Pretty decent time. They had allot of baby animals for spring, but the girls dressed in bunny outfits was actually really creepy. But that is just me. My daughter loved it and was running around looking at all the animals. I think that things were laid out pretty well except for stroller access to allot of different places. The access they did have was way out of the way and filled with deep rock that grabbed the wheels on our stroller and made it hard to push. Prices at the gift shop were not bad and and food was not bad either price wise. We didn't eat there but looked at the prices. They had an easter bunny and you could take your picture with him. It was nice to not be badgered to buy some outrageous picture package from them and just take your own pictures. We really enjoyed our time there and will be going back, just maybe without the stroller.

I've been to Purina Farms a few times now, most recently last Saturday, when the Event Center hosted an all-breed dog show. We checked out the welcome center, the pet center, the barn (including cow milking) and the upstairs play area before heading up to the show. It was all a lot of fun, especially when you consider we didn't drop a dime the whole time. We enjoyed petting the piglets and bunnies and harassing the geese (don't tell, they might not let me back, but it's pretty hilarious when they all run away honking. I think their Canadian cousins have spoiled their reputation). I was especially impressed with the dog arena, where one of the trainers was working with the dogs on some Frisbee toss tricks. I noticed a couple of the dogs in the Pet Center were watching jealously while the other dog was having fun. We'll definitely have to come back for an official competition. No doubt this is the best facility in town. I've been to several dog shows, but this one had to be the best run and most professional of the ones I've seen. The facility was very spacious and there were hundreds of dogs there, enough to keep any little one's attention for a while, at least. If you're a local and you haven't been, get out there while the weather is still nice. Anyone with kids should make this a priority spot for cheap entertainment.

Not going to lie, I was shocked to hear that my husband had never been to Purina Farms growing up so I made sure to stop by for a visit on our way back from our Labadie lunch. Purina has always played an important role in my life as I've always had dogs in my family and their diet consists of something from the Purina family. It is free to go, free to park and free to see the shows. They will have events where you can bring your own pets and do agility courses or fun days with them. When you go around to the various buildings on the grounds, you can see live cow milking, roll in the hay with the kiddos, get lost in mazes and see their own dogs do tricks at the dog shows. If you're a cat lover, there is a building devoted to them as well. They do have a gift shop that you will find the perfect gift for that animal lover in you or in a friend. You can purchase food and snacks as well, prices are your normal that you'd see at a place like this. Check out their calendars as they also have holiday fun for the families.

Very good experience. A great chance for city folks to see where their food comes from and a chance to see companion animals in action. As a farm boy myself, I would have liked to have heard more about Purina and what makes their feed different. Or even a chance to hear more of the "American Farmer's" story.

Not bad for a late morning visit, the dog show is the main attraction and worth the trip to see world class frisbee/agility dogs. The kids will enjoy the barn area with the animals too. And if your little one is game you may be able to milk a cow if the line isn'tIng too long. Skip the tractor ride as it just takes you around the campus roads and there is no interpreter to explain the various buildings. The staff was helpful and courteous too. You'll probavly spend about two maybe three hours here tops. But it's a nice short day trip.

Beautiful indoor and outdoor show ground facility

You can't be free can you? This is a very lovely place. The grounds are routinely decorated in the main building for seasonal holidays, You can get up close and personal with some animals, see a dog, show, take a wagon ride, or just casually walk around at your own pace taking in the country air. Save time for the kiddos to play in the hay! Everyone is nice and helpful throughout the complex. It even has a gift-shop with not overly expensive items to take home. Definitely plan a trip a couple times a year.

My family loves purina farms is amazing my kids love the animals and the games all the many different things they have

First of all, it's free. FREE! It's big enough and has enough to do to make it worth the trip, but not so big that you feel exhausted afterwards. You enter through an education center with displays on how certain products are made, then continue into a movie theater (we skipped the movie, but the part we saw as we walked by was teaching how to approach a dog safely), then continue into the barn. There are tables full of corn kernals with little trucks for the kids to play with, tunnels to crawl through, haylofts to swing in, and tractor toys to ride. Downstairs, you meet the animals. Horses, goats, sheep, pigs, ducks, rabbits, chickens, cows, donkeys... there's a small petting area, which was a huge hit for my little guy. We had just watched Babe, so getting to pet two adorable little pink piglets made his day, and he also got to pet a huge rabbit and a chicken. There was also a cow milking demo that we missed. There's a seperate building that is like a two story dollhouse for cats (super cute...those are some lucky cats), and it houses several pens of dogs and cats with employees there to educate the kids and let them pet them. Outside there is a waterfall and koi pond near the patio outside the welcome center and snack bar. The food was good and reasonably priced (we had hot dogs, brats, and chicken nuggets with ice cream cones for dessert). There was ample seating and lots of shade. The dog show was cute, with an obstacle course, frisbee catching, and dogs jumping into a pool. The trainers seemed to really care about the animals. We enjoyed our day there so much that we returned with kiddo's cousins a few days later.

I'm shocked, how could I have not reviewed Purina Farms before!? I've been here multiple times. I just recently returned from our most recent trip to the farm for their Halloween event! This is one of the best kept secrets in St. Louis. Really only 30-40 minutes out of town just 10 minutes west of Six Flags. For the Halloween special there was a $5 parking fee but otherwise it was free provided you make a reservation. Set in the vast acreage of Purina Farms is their visitor center. With plenty of parking you walk in are greeted by the information desk. They have a gift shop and of course a concession stand with slushees and hotdogs. Very basic fare. If you make the circuit you start out in the "informercial" area where they educate you on how they make their cat and dog food etc... You can then sit and watch a short movie on pets. You move on through to the barn where the kids can play in the hay loft with toy tractors, rope swings and tunnels. During their halloween event they had an area decorated with semi-spooky displays. As you make your way down stairs you are greeted with the smell of barn animals but that is part of the fun! You can see/pet sheep, ducks, cows, ponies, rabbits, and even pigs. There is also a cow milking area with a demonstration and the opportunity for hands on milking for the kids. Coming out of the barn you can walk up the hill to the cat/dog house which is air conditioned (in the summer) and they have an enormous cat house. Pretty amazing if you adore cats. Last but not least is the dog demonstration area which is a mini stadium where you can watch dogs perform frisbee tricks, run the obstacle course and dive into the pool! This is a fantastic place for families with young kids especially if you love animals. You do have to realize that you are on a "farm" and will be going through a true "barn" and not be weirded out by the smells or letting your kids touch the animals. It only takes about 1-2 hours and its FREE! Can't beat that.

This place is a 40 minute drive from St Louis, and I was worried it wouldn't be worth the trip with my 2 year old son. It was awesome. They have lots of farm animals to see, including cows, pigs, horses, chickens, etc. The day I was there, they had baby pigs in an area where you could pet them. They had a milking demonstration (better for older kids) and upstairs they had a play area with small toy trucks in a sandbox area filled with dried corn, larger toy tractors kids can ride on, and hay areas where older kids can swing. To top it all off, they have an awesome dog show. It was perfect for my two year old. It was 15 minutes of dogs running, jumping, and catching frisbees set to energetic music. There were several dog leaps into a giant swimming pool. I tried the zoo's sea lion show with my son a few weeks ago, and it was too slow for him, with too much talking, and too little action. This dog show was non-stop fun. It held his interest. Purina Farms is immaculately maintained and free. The staff there are notably helpful and polite. It was a great full-morning activity for us. I highly recommend it. It definitely gave me a very very positive impression of Purina as a company.

As an animal lover this place was heaven on earth. The All Stars show that they put on by the entrance was fantastic. The kids especially loved the frisbee and pool jumping. Not to mention the fact that the head trainer pointed out that each of the dogs that was performing was a rescue dog and he then gave us all background on all of them. Some of them came from difficult situations but now get to live a very happy life playing, doing tricks, and getting affection from hundreds of visitors. The place doesn't seem too busy and appears to be a bit of a well kept secret. Plus, it's free. Lots of things for the kiddos to do, a party pavillion and extremely helpful staff make this one of my favorite places in St. Louis. It's only a half hour from the city and even the drive is pretty scenic. If you have kids this is a place you'll want to take them for sure. So much fun!

This is a great place to bring the family some weekend. Lots to see and do. Free!

Kind of small. Great for kids. They have a Pet Center, where you can pet the cats & dogs. Huge kitty condo inside. They have this Belgian Quarter Horse if I'm not mistaken that is huge! They also have your usual farm animals, rabbits, donkeys, horses, chickens & ducks. They have a koi pond that has a waterfall.

We were visiting the St Louis area from Arizona and a friend took us to Purina Farms. What a great experience! The staff is awesome and we really enjoyed the show. It has inspired us to learn how to throw a frisbee!

I always have a good time bringing my young children to Purina Farms. The dog show is fun and not too long. The barn has animals to pet and fun activities upstairs.