Malad Valley farm welcomes the world with games, attractions

SAMARIA — Luke Waldron used to teach middle school history and geography. Now, he runs his family’s Malad Valley farm.

But the everyday duties of being a farmer will never stop him from teaching and helping people have fun. With that in mind, Waldron has launched his newest venture — Crazy Cow Farm Adventures.

The focus of his fifth-generation farm will always be the animals, Waldron told EastIdahoNews.com. But with events like this weekend’s Fall Harvest Festival, the Baby Animal Spring Festival and this newest experience, Waldron can bring the joy and learning to his farm.

“What we’re really trying to do is make this educational,” he said. “I really want people to be able to come and learn more about farm life, but have fun.”

According to Waldron, agriculture is responsible for more jobs than any other industry in the world.

Other things people may not know, he said, include facts like: Cows have a memory of about three years; pigs are the fourth-smartest animal — behind chimpanzees, dolphins and elephants; and chickens are capable of making more than 200 distinct noises for communicating.

“It’s so much fun to learn and stay connected to our roots,” Waldron said.

Courtesy Luke Waldron

As for the fun stuff, Waldron said he is always on the lookout for additions — but credited his six-year-old son for much of the new stuff.

Waldron, watching his son scoot around on his new pedal cart, thought, “Dude, I want one I can ride.” So, Waldron got a few adult carts and, with his son’s help, designed a racetrack.

Then, last year, while the Waldron family was driving home from a vacation to Disneyland, the boy could not stop talking about playing laser tag.

“That’s when Crazy Cow was born — on that drive back,” Waldron said.

He brainstormed a few additional events to add to the mix and came up with Crazy Cow Farm Adventures.

Visitors will be able to race pedal carts, enter a 20-minute “mini” escape room — designed around the Malad Valley’s Legend of the Iron Door stage coach robbery that, as the story says, left a large amount of gold hidden somewhere in the valley’s mountains. There is also a straw maze for children and, obviously, the attractions would not be complete without the zombie laser tag.

The outdoor laser tag field, Waldron joked, offered the perfect use for retired farming equipment — as obstacles.

Next year, Waldron plans to add a pumpkin patch.

“We’re just, kinda, building on what we’ve done for years. We’ve loved entertaining, having people over at our farm,” he said. “It’s about the beliefs and values passed down through the generations. What we’re trying to do is ensure that things are left better for those yet to come. To me, it’s about the legacy — the legacy of agriculture.”

Laser tag at the Malad Valley Heritage Square. | Courtesy Luke Waldron

Crazy Cow Farm Adventures will play a small part in this weekend’s Malad Valley Fall Harvest Festival at the Malad Valley Heritage Square, which is a separate venture from the Crazy Cow.

Beyond the weekend, the farm will be available through the end of the month to parties, with reservations required. The Waldron farm is located at 4450 West 4500 South, in Samaria.

Families or groups interested can call or text Waldron, at (208) 380-3522, to make a reservation. Crazy Cow is closed Sundays, but available Monday to Thursday in the evenings and all day Friday and Saturday.

Waldron said he looks forward to sharing some farm fun and knowledge to all those interested. His credo, he said, is something he has written on wall inside his home.

“A day in the country is worth a month in town.”