If you’re looking for something a little different to do in Bucks County this fall, Ross Mill Farm has about 170 reasons to stop by.
Known as the “Home of the Pet Pig,” Ross Mill Farm is devoted entirely to pigs, offering rescue, boarding, education and adoption services. Its work goes beyond caring for the animals, with an emphasis on teaching people about pigs — the farm has close to 200 of them — and what it takes to keep them as companion animals.
It also has a distinction that brings visitors from well beyond Bucks County: Susan Magidson, the farm’s sole owner, said it is the only farm in Pennsylvania that operates as a pet pig facility of its kind.
“Pig lovers come here from all over, not just this area,” said Magidson. “We have a draw beyond Bucks County. We are one of a kind, so people come from a distance to visit and go on our tours. There is no other farm like us in the state.”
The property itself has a long history. Its oldest building dates to 1696, while the barn dates to the 1700s and the house to 1734. Magidsom has owned the farm since 1982, when it was home to a variety of animals.
“I had two horses, two goats, two sheep, a flock of ducks and geese and lots of chickens," she said, "so I thought I needed a cow and a pig to complete Old MacDonald’s farm.”
The cow turned out to be too big, and when Magidson saw the size of a full-grown farm pig, she decided she didn't want one of those either. Then she discovered miniature pigs.
Magidson became interested in miniature swine in 1990. At the time, she was working in event marketing in New York and traveling throughout the country. She eventually began learning everything she could about pet pigs, and Ross Mill Farm gradually evolved into a place dedicated entirely to them.
She got a breeding pair, Bromley and Blossom, and their first litter of four piglets helped set her on a new path. As she traveled for work, she began stopping in different areas to learn more about potbellied pigs and how to care for them.
“I became very well versed in pet pig care, and that’s where I am today,” Magidson said. “I do a lot of education on this.”
Today, the farm offers boarding, education, rescue and adoption services. About 40 pigs are boarded at the farm long-term, while others live in the farm’s various villages and buildings.
The farm’s guided tours take place at 1 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday through the end of November, giving visitors a chance to see the operation firsthand.
During the tours, Magidson and other tour guides lead guests through the west, east and Creekside villages, introducing them to different breeds and sharing the stories of individual pigs.
“We give a complete tour of the farm that includes a brief history of the farm and how I founded Ross Mill Farm as a pet pig resort,” she said. “We then go into certain pens where I identify a couple of different breeds of pigs that I show them.”
Visitors hear about 10 to 12 pigs during a typical tour, including Frankie the “Swientist”, a particularly memorable resident. Frankie was used in a research and memory study that demonstrated just how smart pigs can be.
“The memory study proved he was pretty darn smart,” Magidson said. “And all pigs are extremely smart.”
Guests are given a back scratcher to use along the fences, where pigs often come over looking for attention. If the pigs are in the mood, visitors may even get the chance to give them a belly rub.
However, the farm does not use food to encourage interaction during the tours.
“Pigs are a bit obsessed with food, as we know from that ‘eat like a pig’ saying,” Magidson said. “There is a certain amount of truth about how much they absolutely love food.”
Instead, the pigs learn that visitors mean scratches and belly rubs rather than snacks.
The tours are popular with families, but Magidson said adults also come because they are considering adding a pig to their household.
Magidson said education is particularly important because pigs are often misunderstood as companion animals. They can be housebroken or litter-box trained, she said, and they enjoy living in homes but still need access to a yard for grazing.
“We understood early on that the reason they were not being rehomed was because there was a misunderstanding about keeping pigs as pets,” she said. “When they are educated, when they understand the pig language, let’s call it body language, verbal language, when they understand their basic needs, they do understand and they love these pigs.”
The tours also reinforce the farm’s larger mission of helping people understand pigs as companion animals.
Guided farm tours are by appointment only and last approximately one hour. To schedule an appointment, visit rossmillfarm.com or call 215-322-1539. The minimum donation for a tour is $50 for up to six people, with an additional $10 per person.
“As a result of these tours, I want people to learn that pigs are individuals,” Magidson said. “They need to be respected for what they are and that they do make excellent companion animals.”
That mission extends through Pig Placement Network, the nonprofit arm of Ross Mill Farm. The organization helps pigs that need new homes by connecting them with potential adopters throughout the country.
People looking to adopt can find pigs in need of homes through the organization, while the network evaluates potential homes and works to match each pig with a family that fits its needs and personality.
Magidson said that a personality-based approach is important because pigs can have very different temperaments and needs.
“The key thing I do that might be different than others is I know the personality of each of my pigs, and make sure to understand the expectations of each family so I can make the best match,” she said.
Adopters must own their home, have a yard and check local zoning regulations to make sure they are permitted to keep a pig. Magidson also considers the household itself when determining whether a pig is a good fit.
The final Mini Piggy Palooza of the year, scheduled for Oct. 24 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., will offer a different way to experience the farm. The event will include piglet cuddles, pig paintings, live music, vegan food and a farm tour.
During the pig-painting activity, pigs create their own works of art. Paint is placed on a canvas covered with plastic, with food placed on top. As the pig moves around to reach the food, the paint underneath is moved across the canvas.
“They move the paint around underneath it and create these masterpieces, ‘Pigcassos,’” Magidson said.
If there are piglets available, visitors can also sit in a pen with them for cuddles. Pigs will roam among visitors during the event, offering plenty of opportunities for petting and, naturally, more belly rubs.
A vegan lunch can be purchased in advance, and a small pig store sells shirts, souvenirs, collectibles and other pig-related items. Some of the merchandise is donated to the farm and resold, with proceeds benefiting the organization.
“A highlight of this event is seeing the pigs roaming around on the farm among you,” Magidsom said. “You can pet them as they roam and offer them belly rubs.”
Tickets for the Piggy Palooza must be purchased in advance at rossmillfarm.com/events and cost $75 per carload, rather than per person.
All proceeds from the farm’s tours and Piggy Paloozas benefit Pig Placement Network.
MORE: Bucks County Foodshed Alliance spotlights local farms with tours
Ross Mill Farm is located at 2464 Walton Road in Jamison, Bucks County.
The farm’s guided tours take place at 1 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday through the end of November, giving visitors a chance to see the operation firsthand.
Rose Mill Farm has approximately 170 pigs. Yes, guests are encouraged to pet the pigs and are even given a back scratcher to use along the fences. If the pigs are in the mood, visitors may even get the chance to give them a belly rub.
Mini Piggy Palooza offers a different way to experience the farm and includes piglet cuddles, pig paintings, live music, vegan food and a farm tour. Tickets for the Piggy Palooza must be purchased in advance at rossmillfarm.com/events and cost $75 per carload.
