Ah, the holidays on an Arizona farm or ranch – where the air might not be crisp with snow (unless you’re in northern Arizona), but it's filled with the scent of mesquite smoke, fresh tamales steaming on the stove, and the quiet sounds of family laughter echoing across open fields.

As the Director of Strategic Communications for the Arizona Farm Bureau, I've spent years chatting with our hardworking farmers and ranchers, and let me tell you, there's nothing quite like Christmas in rural Arizona. It's a time when the daily grind of tending crops, herding cattle, or milking goats pauses just long enough to let the magic seep in. No flashy mall displays here; instead, we've got tractors twinkling with lights, living nativity scenes complete with real donkeys and sheep, and traditions that tie us back to the land we love.

This year, as we approach Christmas Day, I wanted to gather some of my favorite stories from farms across the nation and right here in our Grand Canyon State. These tales remind us why agriculture isn't just a job – it's a way of life that fosters community, creativity, and a whole lot of holiday cheer. So, grab a cup of hot cocoa (or maybe some farm-fresh eggnog), settle in by the fire, and let's dive into the rustic wonder of Christmas on the farm. This was also our topic this last Saturday when I had Ashley and Ben Menges on as guests for Rosie on the House during the “Farm Fresh” Hour.

The Magic of Decorating Farm Equipment: Turning Tractors into Twinkling Wonders

One of the most delightful traditions I've heard about – and seen firsthand on Arizona ranches – is decking out farm equipment with Christmas lights. It's like giving your trusty old tractor a holiday makeover, transforming it from a workhorse into a glowing beacon of joy. Across the country, farmers get creative with this, and it's no different here in Arizona, where our mild winters mean we can parade those lit-up machines under starry skies without worrying about blizzards.

Take the classic Tractor Parade of Lights, a staple in farming communities from Ohio to our own Southwest. Families spend evenings in the shop, zip-tying strings of LED lights to John Deere frames, wrapping them around headlights and cabs like oversized ornaments. I remember hearing from a grandfather in the Midwest who added sleigh bells to his vintage 1950s tractor's exhaust, the jingle as it chugged along was pure Christmas poetry. These parades often end with hot cocoa and carols in the town square, where kids clamber aboard for rides. The lights illuminate frozen fields (or in our case, dusty pastures), proving that even in the quiet of rural life, wonder finds a way.

Here in Arizona, we put our own spin on it. On sprawling ranches, folks like media personality Glenn Beck have shared stories of adorning aspen trees with vintage skis and snowshoes, but swap that for our desert flair, think lights strung across hay wagons or even ATVs used for herding. One local rancher I spoke with last year described rigging up extension cords from the farmhouse generator to light up a rusty Ford tractor, creating a "mobile Bethlehem star" for neighborhood processions. It's not always picture-perfect; duct tape and zip ties hold it all together, but that's the beauty of farm life – ingenuity born from necessity.

And let's not forget the barns and wagons. In anthologies like "A Farm Country Christmas," contributors recall 1930s Iowa farms where battery-powered lights turned hay wagons into festive floats. Arizona ranchers echo this with their own versions: Imagine a wagon pulled by a lit-up tractor, carrying families through saguaro-dotted landscapes while singing carols. These setups aren't just decorations; they're symbols of resilience, reminding us that the same hands that plow fields can craft holiday magic.

Living Nativity Scenes: Bringing the Christmas Story to Life Amid the Barnyard

If there's one tradition that captures the essence of farm Christmas, it's the living nativity scene. Farms are natural stages for this – real animals, hay bales for mangers, and starlit skies overhead. No need for fancy sets when you've got a barn that smells of fresh straw and the occasional bleat of a goat adding authenticity. Ashley and Ben Menges tell their story of when they participated in a live Nativity as Mary and Joseph. Tune into the radio show embedded at the bottom of this article to get the entire story.

Nationwide, these scenes draw communities together. At Shepherd's Cross Ranch in Oklahoma, a walk-through nativity in a historic barn features sheep, donkeys, and even a borrowed camel. Families bundle up for wagon rides to the site, where actors in simple robes share the story, ending with cocoa by a bonfire. Kids pet the animals, making the miracle feel tangible. In Nebraska, the Johnson family converts a loafing shed into Bethlehem, with live sheep and a pony standing in as the donkey. One stormy year, neighbors shoveled paths through a blizzard for attendees, turning it into an all-night vigil lit by battery lanterns.

Arizona farms embrace this with our unique Southwest vibe. In Virginia – wait, no, let's bring it home: Though not exclusively Arizona, our local versions shine at places like Schnepf Farms in Queen Creek, where holiday events include nativity-inspired setups. But for pure farm authenticity, think of ranches hosting indoor walk-throughs in restored barns, complete with Bible-garden tours and twinkling lights. One family shared a story of a snowstorm (yes, it happens in northern Arizona in winter all the time!) where visitors joined as impromptu angels, foil wings and all. The chaos – a goat wandering into the scene – only adds to the charm.

In our state, these nativities often blend reverence with playfulness. Winter games outside, like sack races in the fields, follow the solemn reenactment. It's interactive, educational, and free, relying on volunteers and farm props. As one rancher put it, "Faith thrives in the muck and cold – or in our case, the dust and mild chill." These scenes foster a sense of shared wonder, connecting us to the original Christmas story in a way that's grounded in the land.

 

Beyond Lights and Nativities: Heartfelt Tales from the Heartland

Of course, Christmas on the farm isn't just about decorations and pageants; it's the little moments that stick with you. From milking cows before gifts to simple barn gatherings, these stories weave a tapestry of grit and grace.

In Central Alberta, a farmer recalls 1980s Christmases in a 1919 barn: Kids milking at dawn, steam rising from pails under lantern light, before dashing in for presents. "Milking always seemed to take forever those mornings," he chuckled, but the fresh milk in eggnog made it worthwhile. Echoes of this ring true in Arizona, where chores don't stop for Santa.

Books like "A Simple Christmas on the Farm" by Phyllis Alsdurf paint pictures of Minnesota girls crafting ornaments from twine and pinecones, hosting cookie-sharing walks in red barns. British farmer Adam Henson's "Christmas on the Farm" adds wintry animal escapades – frozen troughs chipped for pigs, puppies unwrapping themselves under the tree. One tale: A lamb born on Christmas Eve, lit by a phone torch, turning panic into praise.

Bob Artley's sketches of 1920s Iowa bring catalog dreams and popcorn evenings: Mail-order wishes leading to cornhusk dolls, northern lights as a free show. Cutting wild cedars with bucksaws, stringing garlands while Dad whittles angels – simple joys that resonate.

Anthologies like Patricia Penton Leimbach's feature ranch rescues in the snow: Stranded travelers welcomed with venison stew, an improvised pageant with barn cats as wise men. Laughter as a goat crashes the stable – hospitality as the true gift.

 

Arizona's Flavor: Tamales, Baking, and Ranch Kid Magic

Now, let's zoom in on our beloved Arizona, where farm Christmases blend Southwest traditions with that unbreakable ranch spirit. Our landscapes – from Yuma's leafy greens fields to northern cattle spreads – swap snowmen for saguaros, but the heart remains the same.

Baking and tamale-making top the list of bonding the generations. At Silvas Farms in Yuma, Sandy Silvas gathers ladies and grandkids at Grandma's for an all-day cookie and fudge marathon. "We have the men around to be taste testers," she says, with kids helping amid flour-dusted chaos. The goodies become gifts, spreading farm cheer.

Rhonda Crow of Crow’s Dairy turns her goat cheese operation into a tamale factory the first Saturday in December: "One year we made 60 dozen!" Masa-spreading, meat-filling, olive-hiding – it's a steamy, laughter-filled detour from dairy duties, with leftovers for Christmas breakfast paired with fresh milk.

Glenda Stechnij at Superstition Farms in Mesa upheld a strict assembly line: Cleaning husks, spreading masa (her job!), adding meat, hiding olives. "The tamales are rushed to the freezer to keep from spoiling," she noted, with Mom-in-law's rule: No tasting till Christmas, or bad luck!

Ranch life amps up the kid magic. Statewide, "Reindeer Layovers" see families setting out oats and bales on Christmas Eve; by dawn, it's gone – proof of Santa's stop. Kids track "hoof prints" in the dirt, tying chores to folklore.

Stefanie Smallhouse of Carlink Ranch in southern Arizona keeps it simple: Pork-and-green-chili stew on Christmas Eve. With kids Hannah and Johnny, it's about their excitement: "We try to make the experience as special as possible." Mesquite wood scents the fire for stories.

Carrie Schnepf at Schnepf Farms in Queen Creek hosts a 50+-year breakfast tradition: Eggs, pork chops, cinnamon rolls, hash browns, juice, milk for the extended family. Post-feast: Gift swaps, flag football in the fields, then dinner at home. "Everyone comes to the farm," she says – pure abundance amid all the Christmas cheer.

A veteran rancher from north central Arizona recalls Irish-rooted stockings with oranges, symbolizing gratitude. Peeled over tamales, it's a humble treasure in a hardworking world.

 

Supporting Our Farmers This Holiday Season

As I wrap up these stories – and trust me, I could go on for pages more – it's clear that Christmas on the farm is about more than traditions; it's about the people who make Arizona agriculture thrive. From Yuma to Queen Creek, our farmers and ranchers pour their hearts into the land year-round, and the holidays are their well-deserved pause.

This season, why not support them? Visit spots like Mortimer Farms in Dewey or Vertuccio Farms in Mesa for light displays, tree cuttings, and markets. Cut your own evergreen in Tonto National Forest or join a tamale-making class at a local farmstead. Buy fresh produce, cheeses, or meats – it's the best way to say, "thank you" and keep these stories alive.

In a world that's often too fast and flashy, farm Christmases ground us in what's real: Family, faith, and the quiet beauty of the land. From twinkling tractors to tamale feasts, these traditions light up our souls. Wishing you all a merry, Arizona-style Christmas.