After picking up roots again, Big Jim Farms is bringing U-pick, workshops and classes to two locations

For the second consecutive year, Big Jim Farms will be at a new location — or more accurately, two locations — for its fall offerings.

After moving to Los Poblanos Open Space fields in 2023, the farm opened on Labor Day weekend at 3521 Rio Grande Blvd. NW, which is just a little bit further south from where it was in 2022. The privately-owned property is approximately five acres and will allow for more activities, animals and events that were not permitted at Los Poblanos.

A growing opportunity: After picking up roots again, Big Jim Farms is bringing U-pick, workshops and classes to two locations

“We’re super excited about it,” said Chantelle Wagner, who is the daughter of owner Jim Wagner. “And we have a long-term lease for this property, so we don’t anticipate moving anytime soon.”

The U-pick season, which includes sunflowers, green chile roasting and a pumpkin patch, will all take place at the Rio Grande location. As in past years, it’s free to explore the field, and guests only have to pay for what they pick.

“I think it’s gonna be a great year,” Wagner said. “The space is really beautiful and really scenic. We’re super excited for the years to come to plant different things. And we just got into this lease late, so we didn’t get to plant as much as we wanted to, but we’re just hoping as the years go on that we keep adding and making different opportunities for people to experience.”

Because there was some uncertainty surrounding the property for this fall season, Big Jim Farms also planted crops for its specialty classes at the Larry P. Abraham Agri-Nature Center in Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, which aims to promote agricultural education through a variety of workshops and events. Big Jim Farms will offer various options at the site, including a salsa-making class, where attendees will pick their own ingredients — such as tomatoes, peppers and cilantro — for the homemade salsa. Additionally, blue corn will be ground down to make flour for fresh tortilla chips. That two-hour course will be held every weekend through Oct. 5-6.

Other upcoming classes include flower arranging, red chile ristra making, and beginning in November, tamale cooking. The Agri-Nature Center has an indoor and an outdoor kitchen, which will also allow for a cooking on the farm class that concludes with a multi-course meal from home-grown produce along with wine pairings. That option, which hasn’t been formally announced, is expected to be finalized later this year. All special classes and workshops require advance registration to secure a ticket on the Big Jim Farms website.

“Basically, anything that we have growing, we are going to use in an educational class to promote agriculture, to promote New Mexico traditions and heritage,” Wagner said.

The arrangement with the Agri-Nature Center for classes and workshops could be more than temporary, according to Wagner.

“Our missions align as far as educating and providing a place for learning for agriculture,” she said. “So I would love to keep working at that space also.”

Wagner recommends that anyone who hasn’t been to Big Jim Farms to give it a try this season as it transitions to a new setting.

“I think it’s an amazing fall activity to do. It’s a New Mexico tradition for the family to start seeing where your food comes from and getting appreciation for it, and just the benefits of building community together,” she said.