Big Jim Farms

Name: Big Jim Farms
Address: 3521 Rio Grande Blvd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87107, USA, Albuquerque, NM, US
Telephone: (505) 459-0719
Price range: $$
Rating: 4.7

3521 Rio Grande Blvd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87107, USA

Overview

Category:Petting Zoos

Location:Albuquerque, NM

Expert Summary

Detailed Insights

Big Jim Farms offers unique, hands-on agricultural and culinary experiences for families, combining seasonal picking activities (sunflowers, pumpkins), animal viewing, and interactive classes (salsa making, chile ristra crafting) with the opportunity to purchase fresh, local, and often organic produce directly from the farm.

Key Highlights

✓Engaging hands-on classes like salsa and chip making, where participants pick fresh ingredients, learn processes (e.g., corn to chips), press tortillas, and eat what they make.
✓Interactive chile ristra making classes with helpful, friendly instructors.
✓Seasonal 'u-pick' opportunities for sunflowers and pumpkins, making it a favorite for fall photoshoots.
✓Opportunities to see farm animals.
✓Excellent photo opportunities, particularly in the sunflower fields.
✓High-quality, fresh, and locally grown produce available for purchase, including roasted green chile, watermelons, tomatoes, and organic options.
✓Support for local agricultural traditions of New Mexico.
✓Praised for kind, generous staff and amazing instructors (e.g., Greg for ristra class, Luke at checkout).

Standout Features

⭐Variety of unique, educational, and interactive classes.
⭐Fresh, local, and often organic produce directly from the farm.
⭐Beautiful natural settings ideal for family photos.
⭐Friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful staff and instructors.
⭐Seasonal activities that encourage repeat visits (e.g., fall shoots, produce seasons).

Perfect For

Families with older children/teens: Hands-on classes (salsa making, chile ristra making) are ideal for children who can follow instructions and enjoy interactive learning/crafting.

All ages: Animal viewing, sunflower/pumpkin picking, and general farm visits are suitable for families with younger children as well, providing great photo opportunities.

Adults: Classes and produce shopping are highly recommended for adults.

Ideal For

Families seeking educational and interactive farm experiences.

Parents looking for unique seasonal activities and photo opportunities.

Individuals or families interested in learning traditional New Mexican culinary or crafting skills.

Anyone prioritizing fresh, locally sourced, and organic produce.

Supporting a family-run business that preserves agricultural traditions.

💡Pro Tips from Reviews

→Check their schedule for specific classes like salsa and chip making or chile ristra making, and consider booking in advance due to popularity.
→Visit during the fall for sunflower and pumpkin picking, as it's a popular time for photo opportunities.
→Bring a camera to capture the picturesque farm setting and family moments, especially in the sunflower fields.
→Plan to purchase fresh produce, local honey, and seasonal specialties like roasted green chile.
→Engage with staff and instructors who are consistently praised for being friendly and helpful.

Things to Consider

⚠None reported in these 5-star reviews.

Price & Value

Specific pricing is not mentioned in the reviews, but the consistent 5-star ratings and enthusiastic recommendations for classes, produce, and overall experience suggest high perceived value. Customers repeatedly return, indicating satisfaction with what they get for their money.

♿Accessibility & Special Needs

•No specific accessibility accommodations mentioned in these reviews.

🍎Food & Drink Policy

•Classes involve making and consuming food (e.g., salsa and chips).
•Fresh produce is available for purchase.
•No explicit policy on outside food is mentioned.

🚗Parking Info

•Not mentioned in these reviews.

👥Crowd Levels

•Not specifically mentioned, but a reviewer visits 'multiple times every year' and is 'never disappointed', suggesting a consistently positive experience regardless of potential crowd levels.

🛡️Safety Features

•Not mentioned in these reviews.

⏰When to Avoid

• No specific situations to avoid based on these reviews, as all experiences reported were positive.

Pricing/Package/Events

Pricing & Packages

Cooking on the Farm (Single Class)

$70

Duration: 1.5 hours (2:30 PM – 4:00 PM)

Farm-to-table cooking series with Chef John LeTard. Harvest fresh ingredients from the fields and transform them into elevated dishes in the outdoor kitchen. Each week features a new theme and menu.

Includes:

•Ingredients
•Instruction
•Recipes and techniques

Cooking on the Farm (2 Classes)

$125

Bundle for two cooking classes from the Farm-to-Table series.

Includes:

•Ingredients
•Instruction
•Recipes and techniques

Cooking on the Farm (Full 5-Class Series)

$280

Full culinary journey with Chef John LeTard, covering various themes over five classes.

Includes:

•Ingredients
•Instruction
•Recipes and techniques

Pickling Workshop

$35

Duration: 1 hour (1:00 PM - 2:00 PM)

Harvest fresh vegetables from the fields and learn the art of pickling in an outdoor kitchen with Chef John. Focus on healthy, natural preservation and gut health benefits.

Includes:

•All supplies
•Instruction
•Mason jar of pickles to take home

Southwest Autumn Ornamentals Workshop

$35

Harvest colorful corn, sunflowers, chiles, and natural materials to create a festive fall ornament.

Includes:

•All supplies
•Materials
•Instruction
•Arrangement to take home

Flower Arranging Workshop

$35

Duration: Approx. 1 hour

Pick your own flowers (sunflowers, zinnias, marigolds, cosmos, wildflowers) and learn floral design and composition, including growing and harvesting techniques.

Includes:

•All supplies
•Instruction
•Flower arrangement to take home

Chips & Salsa Making Workshop

$35

Handpick fresh ingredients like tomatoes, peppers, cilantro, blue corn from fields, then head to an outdoor kitchen to make salsa and blue corn tortilla chips from scratch.

Includes:

•All ingredients
•Supplies
•Guidance
•Jar of salsa to take home

Ages: All ages

Red Chile Ristra Making Workshop

$40

Learn about the history of Red Chile Ristras and how to make your own from start to finish.

Includes:

•All supplies
•Instruction
•Ristra to take home

Farm Dinner Series

$125

A magical farm-to-table evening featuring Chef Domonick Campos and Sheehan Winery. Enjoy a four-course dinner with wine pairings.

Includes:

•4-course dinner
•Wine pairings
•Complimentary sunflower U-Pick experience to create own bouquet

Pumpkin Patch Photoshoot (Hillary Christina Photography)

$100

Duration: 10 minutes

A festive photoshoot session in the pumpkin patch.

Includes:

•10-minute session
•10 professionally edited digital images delivered within a week

Ages: Little ones, Big groups, Families, Couples

Field Trip (Per Student/Child)

$9.50

Duration: 1-2 hours (guided stations), 3 hours (total planned)

Educational field trip with interactive learning stations focusing on agriculture, sustainability, and New Mexico farming traditions.

Includes:

•Interactive learning stations
•Hands-on activities
•Take-home booklet

Ages: School-aged children, Students of all ages

Photographer Field Rental

$75

Duration: 1 hour

Exclusive rental of the farm fields for professional photographers for client photoshoots (birthday, graduation, wedding, family).

Includes:

•Exclusive field access

Events & Schedule

Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)

Farm Dinner Series featuring Chef Domonick Campos & Sheehan Winery

Saturday, August 2nd; Saturday, September 13th; Saturday, September 27th; Saturday, October 4th

$125 per person

A farm-to-table culinary experience with a four-course dinner, wine pairings, and a complimentary sunflower U-Pick experience.

Cooking on the Farm Series with Chef John LeTard

September 6, 13, 20; October 4, 11 (2:30 PM – 4:00 PM)

$70/single class, $125/2 classes, $280/5-class series

Weekly themed cooking classes where participants harvest ingredients and cook in an outdoor kitchen. Themes: Sept 6 - Green Chile Rellenos; Sept 13 - Orecchiette Pasta; Sept 20 - Global Eggplant; Oct 4 - Harvest-to-Table Vegetarian Feast; Oct 11 - Red Chile Enchiladas.

Pickling Workshop

October 4th & 11th (1:00 PM - 2:00 PM)

$35 per person

Learn to pickle fresh vegetables harvested from the fields.

Southwest Autumn Ornamentals Workshop

Saturdays & Sundays (12 PM & 2 PM)

$35 per person

Create fall ornaments using corn, sunflowers, chiles, and natural farm materials.

Flower Arranging Workshop

Saturdays & Sundays (11 AM & 1 PM)

$35 per person

Pick fresh flowers (sunflowers, zinnias, marigolds, cosmos, wildflowers) and learn floral design.

Chips & Salsa Making Workshop

Saturdays (9 AM, 11 AM, & 1 PM)

$35 per person

Handpick ingredients and make your own salsa and blue corn tortilla chips from scratch.

Red Chile Ristra Making Workshop

Saturdays & Sundays (11 AM & 1 PM)

$40 per person

Learn to craft traditional New Mexican red chile ristras.

Pumpkin Patch Photoshoots with Hillary Christina Photography

Weekly on Wednesdays and Saturdays during the timeframe 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM

$100 per session

10-minute professional photoshoot in the pumpkin patch, includes 10 edited digital images. Option to purchase extra images for $10 each.

Harvest Festival

During Pumpkin Patch season (mid-September through end of October)

Free to visit (pay for what you pick)

Features live music from local musicians, face painting, and family activities.

🍎Food Policy

• Visitors can pack a picnic for the pumpkin patch.
• Field trip participants should pack lunch or snacks to enjoy after educational activities.

🛡️Safety Policy

• For field trips, bring plenty of water, sunscreen, wear comfortable clothes and shoes suitable for walking and getting a little muddy.

📅Booking Policy

• Advance reservations are required for the Farm Dinner Series (seating is limited).
• Field trips require a group of at least 12 students/children to book.
• Reservations for field trips must be made in advance.
• Photographers must reserve fields for exclusive photoshoots.

🚗Parking Information

• Parking is limited (carpooling recommended for field trips).
• Buses can drop off at the main gate but must park offsite (for field trips).

Information extracted from official website • Last updated: Sep 29, 2025

What People Say

What's Great

Fun and entertaining activities (mentioned in 3 reviews)
Spacious play areas (mentioned in 4 reviews)

Recent Reviews

Trinity Williams

6 months ago

My husband and I attended the salsa and chip making class. We got to pick our own ingredients so everything was fresh. Also, we learned the process of turning corn into chips. We got to press the tortillas while the instructor cooked/fried them. At the end, we got to eat what we made! I recommend the salsa making class with Big Jim Farms.

DB

7 months ago

Great place to pick some sunflowers, a pumpkin, see animals and many photo ops. My favorite place for a fall shoot. Got some local honey as well.

Patricia Meccia

8 months ago

Big Jim Farms is the BEST!! The produce is always great. The Wagner family is kind and generous and are continuing the important agricultural traditions of New Mexico so I prefer to get organic produce from Big Jim Farms versus markets. Their classes and activities are a lot of fun too!!

Kenneth Lytle

8 months ago

I go to Big Jim Farms multiple times every year and I’m never disappointed. The roasted green chile is amazing and I enjoy the locally grown watermelons, tomatoes and other produce. Last year we had a blast taking photos in the sunflower field. I definitely recommend checking them for fresh produce and the overall experience.

Olive Thompson

7 months ago

Had an awesome experience our first time at Big Jim’s farms at the Chile ristra making class! Greg was an amazing instructor who helped us make awesome ristras and was so friendly and helpful! Luke at the checkout stand was also really great. Will definitely be back for more!