A HARVEST OF FAITH & FAMILY FUN
STORY & PHOTOS PROVIDED BY ANDREA MCCUAN
HOW IT ALL BEGAN
My husband, Chad, and I have always loved animals,
and for as long as we can remember, we dreamed
of having a farm of our own. More than 20 years
ago, we moved to the country with our young son,
never knowing exactly where that dream would
lead us. Just around the corner from our new home
was a cute little farm called Country Critters Farm.
I started working there on weekends, helping with
birthday parties and getting to know the animals
and the owners, Cathy and Steve. I fell in love with
the farm almost immediately. A few years later,
Cathy and Steve offered us the opportunity to buy it.
After many conversations, much prayer, and careful
consideration of the risks, Chad and I decided to
take a leap of faith. We have now owned Country
Critters Farm in Alvarado for 22 years.
I wish I could say it has always been easy—but
it definitely hasn’t! I often joke that buying the
farm was a lot like We Bought a Zoo! If something could go wrong on a farm, it seemed to happen to us. There were plenty of times when I questioned
whether we had made the right decision. Through
it all, though, we kept praying and trusting God. So
many things lined up along the way that we can’t
help but believe God had a plan for our family
and for Country Critters, and today the farm has
become a place where families can make memories,
learn about animals, and simply have fun together.
We host birthday parties and field trips, welcome
families for seasonal visits, and load up our animals
to bring traveling petting zoos and pony rides to
events throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
PUMPKIN PATCH & FALL FESTIVITIES
One of our favorite times of year is Pumpkin Patch
season, which runs from October through early
November. On weekends, families can enjoy pony
rides, hayrides, our petting zoo, a bounce pillow,
barrel train rides, hamster wheels, duck races, a
wooden maze, and plenty more. Every child gets
to choose a pie-sized pumpkin from our patch and
decorate it with markers. And be sure to meet Bingo
and Bluey, two of our adorable baby goats, and try a
slice of our homemade pumpkin bread!
“Chad and I would joke that God
would lead us right to the edge
of a cliff and dangle us over it,
but He never let us fall. Looking
back, we can see His hand in our journey
& I truly believe our faith led us here.”
LEARN AT THE FARMThe farm is fun, but it’s educational, too. Children can pet real farm animals,
feel a sheep’s wool, learn where milk comes from by milking a wooden cow,
and discover the life cycle of a pumpkin. Our spring field trips also teach
children why farming is so important.
After 22 years, Country Critters is still a tremendous amount of work, but
it is incredibly rewarding. Seeing a child touch a farm animal for the first
time, watching families laugh together, or hearing someone tell us how
much they loved their visit makes every challenge worthwhile.
A FAMILY FARM BUILT ON FAITH
When I look back at how we got here, I see more
than a series of decisions. I see God opening doors
and guiding our family, one step at a time. What
began as a dream of owning a farm has become a
way for us to bring joy, learning, and a little bit of
country fun to thousands of families—and we feel
very blessed to be along for the ride. For us, it has
been a journey of hard work, family, and above all, faith in God.
Beginning Oct. 3rd: Open Sat & Sun 10-5 countrycrittersfarm.com
@COUNTRYCRITTERSFARMTX
