Many of the creatures around the farm are looking for mates this time of year. Our Frog and Toad friends are no exception and we’ll adventure around the property to see who is serenading their would-be partners.

Cost: $12 per person 3 and older per night hike. Registration is non-refundable.

Click here to learn more.

Join us for our Annual Hanami Spring Picnic.

Hanami Spring Picnic is a celebration of the blossoming of the farms ornamental cherry trees and Japanese culture! Join us for music, kids activities, and casual picnicking in the Sakura Garden. Guests can bring their own picnic lunch or purchase items from our concession stand.

Enjoy:

• Traditional Tea Ceremony

• Japanese Storytelling 

• Godaiko Drummers w/Tanoshii Taiko Tai (GLTC)

• Sakura Japanese Instrumental Group

• Bon Odori Dance

• Origami and Lantern Making  

$10 per person (4 and under are free)

Tickets are non-refundable and pre-registration recommended.

Activities are outdoors, so please dress for the weather!

Pre-registration is required by May 4th.

Click Here to Register.

Hope you’ll join us for a very special event relaxing on the farm while feeding and meeting our new baby goats (and their moms).

Feedings end April 18

Feeding Time Slots are 11am, 2pm and 6pm

30-minute time slots (limited slots)

You’ll have plenty of time to not only feed the kids, but you’ll also have some great photo

opportunities.

All proceeds go back into supporting the MSU Tollgate Farm animals for education.

Groups larger than 10 please email Destiny at [email protected]

Please dress appropriate to be outside and on a farm.

15 and younger need to be accompanied by an adult 18+

CLICK HERE to register.

MSU Tollgate Farm Stewards Teen Leadership Programs

MSU Tollgate Farm Teen Leadership Programs provide a safe place for social, emotional, and physical growth. The Stewards Teen Leadership Program looks forward to hosting the 2024 stewards and stewards-in-training teen leadership program for youth ages 13-19. 

What is a Steward?

A steward is a person whose responsibility it is to take care of something. This service opportunity offers teens a chance to enrich, mentor, and lead campers while gaining valuable leadership and life skills. In a positive educational environment, teens experience the responsibilities associated with potential career paths before entering college. The Tollgate Teen Steward (15-19 yrs) and Steward-in-Training (13-14 yrs) program is for youth interested in gaining experience serving in leadership roles. 

Registration for the Steward Teen Leadership Program at Tollgate is LIVE!

"Nature is a tool to get youth to experience not just the wider world, but themselves." Check out this opportunity for teens ages 13-19 to mentor and lead campers while gaining valuable leadership and life skills. Tollgate farm camp stewards learn where their food comes from and so much more. Confidence, resilience, leadership, service, friendships and fun, and practical life skills are all part of becoming a Tollgate steward. Cost to be a steward-in-training (ages 13-14) is $200 per week. Stewards (ages 15-19) volunteer. Spaces fill quickly. 

2024 Spring/Summer Forest Therapy Walks


Tollgate Farm forest therapy walks are back! Forest therapy brings rest and refreshment in the Tollgate beech maple forest. Join a certified forest therapy guide and experience the multiple benefits of taking time to bask in the peace and quiet the forest has to offer. Join us for one or more forest wellness walks. 

Cost: $20 per person. Pre-registration required. Non-refundable.

Click here to register.

Current 2024 Dates

April 2, 9:30 am April 11, 4:00 pm

April 26, 9:30 am May 7, 2:30 pm

May 23, 9:30 am. June 11, 3:00 pm

June 25, 2:30 pm. July 11, 10:00 am

CBS News recently visited the farm to explore the benefits of Forest Therapy.

Click image to watch.

Do you love gardening, talking about gardening or just being outside in the garden? Then you might like volunteering with the MSU Tollgate Garden Volunteers (TGVs) to support the gardens at Tollgate. MSU Tollgate Farm has nearly twenty specifically planned and maintained garden sites, ranging from the functional Plant Nursery area, to demonstration gardens, and the PAR garden (Plant-A-Row food donation). The MSU TGVs contribute to the ongoing planning, maintenance, and development of these gardens.

The MSU TGVs is a volunteer organization consisting of gardeners dedicated to enhancing and maintaining the educational gardens. This group has been established for over 25 years and consists of beginners and Master Gardeners alike! Tollgate volunteers are friendly people from diverse backgrounds who readily share their gardening knowledge. There are opportunities to work in groups or individually, based on your comfort and interest level. Most group activities are on Saturday mornings, or you can join a group that works on a weekday.

For more information on how you can become a MSU TGV, check out volunteering on the MSU Tollgate web page tollgate.

 www.canr.msu.edu/tollgate/volunteering

Meet Lisa Bahm, our Event Coordinator

Lisa is responsible for community outreach and renting Tollgate’s historic venues for business meetings, conferences, retreats and private events such as showers, retirement parties, luncheons and small-size wedding receptions. 

Lisa also takes a leadership role in Tollgate’s community-wide events such as Pumpkinfest, Maplefest and the Hanami Spring Picnic open to the general public.  

Lisa holds a B.A. and M.A. in Communications from Michigan State University and brings a variety of managerial experience in marketing and communications in for-profit and not-for-profit organizations for many years.   

In her spare time, Lisa spends time with friends and family including her husband Mike, three adult children and puppy Mack. She loves to travel, attend musical theater and tailgate with friends at MSU football games.  

Her greatest pride of working at Tollgate is seeing the joy it brings to visitors as they discover, explore and learn with each new experience.  

Next time you visit the farm - make sure to say "Hi."

Tollgate Farm and KBS Winged Wonders Traveling Camp.

Birds of a feather really do flock together. Birders ages 9-13 join the flock July 15-19 for the 8th 4-H Winged Wonders Camp with MSU's Tollgate Farm, Kellogg Biological Station, and Corey Marsh Preserve. Two days are spent at farm camp exploring wild and farm birds plus a bus trip for 3 days at Kellogg Bird Sanctuary to camp and bird with the best of them. Fish and feed the eagles, meet raptors up close, care for the farm birds, help scientists conduct research. Partial scholarships are available through 4-H. See the Tollgate Farm camp website page for more information.

For more info on Winged Wonders Camp or to

register click HERE.

Picture(s) of the month!

Some members from the Novi Chamber of Commerce visited the farm.

"Thank you so much for being gracious hosts and sharing wonderful information about the farm. We truly appreciate it.

I look forward to visiting again in the spring. "

Sincerely,

Katie Chuba

President, Novi Chamber of Commerce



Looking for a unique venue for your 2024 business meeting or private event?

Tollgate’s historic charm and picturesque grounds, is a perfect setting in southeast Michigan.  Choose from the historic Americana boardroom, rustic barn or charming Conference Center. Outdoor options are also available with a Pavilion and gardens. Add a teambuilding activity or service project on the farm for a unique experience. 

Book your 2024 business meeting or special event at Tollgate Farm. 

To view our unique venue space,

visit https://www.canr.msu.edu/tollgate/cc/

Contact [email protected] to discuss your needs and rental rates.