A 90-acre farm with more family activities than most competitors, but one that sold out and closed early in 2025 before its planned end date, so its stated Dec. 23 closing should be treated as a plan, not a guarantee.
Strautman Tree Farm is a 90-acre operation that goes noticeably further than most farms in this research on the activity front: goats, a mini-donut vendor (Huey’s Mini Donuts), a custom-built pallet maze, and a basketball wagon are all part of the on-site experience. If your holiday tree trip doubles as a family outing rather than a quick errand, this is one of the stronger candidates in the dataset for that purpose.
The farm’s stated 2026 plan is to run from Nov. 21 through Dec. 23, daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., following its usual rule of opening the Saturday before Thanksgiving. But a source covering the 2025 season noted the farm sold out and closed before that season’s planned end date. That’s a real, specific caution rather than a generic “farms can sell out” disclaimer — it happened last year at this exact farm. If you’re hoping to visit in the final week before Christmas, call ahead to confirm trees are still available before you make the drive; don’t treat Dec. 23 as a guaranteed closing date.
Both options are on the table here — cut-your-own for the full field experience, or a “grab-a-precut” option if you’d rather skip searching the rows yourself. That flexibility is a real asset if your group has mixed preferences, or if you’re worried about the fields thinning out later in the season.
The goats, mini-donut stand, pallet maze, and basketball wagon mean this isn’t a ten-minute stop. If you’re bringing kids, budget real time for them to enjoy the extras rather than treating the tree-cutting as the only item on the agenda — and consider that a farm with this much going on is also likely to draw bigger weekend crowds than a bare-bones lot down the road.
No pricing was found anywhere in the sources reviewed, for the tree itself or for any of the added attractions. Given how many extras this farm offers compared with most others in this research, it’s worth specifically asking whether the goats, the maze, or the mini-donuts carry their own cost, or whether they’re included as part of the general visit — this record can’t answer that, and guessing at a number would risk misleading you. Tree species also weren’t confirmed in sources reviewed, so ask what’s available in the field this year.
Go early if you can, both because of last year’s early sellout and because a 90-acre farm with this many attractions is worth experiencing at full capacity rather than after the crowds have thinned things out.
The 2026 season is planned for Nov. 21 - Dec. 23, daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Given that the farm reportedly sold out and closed early in 2025, going earlier in that window improves your odds of full selection and activities.
Longer than a typical tree farm, given the added attractions — goats, a mini-donut vendor, a pallet maze, and a basketball wagon make this more of a family outing than a quick tree-cutting errand.
Not documented with specific numbers, but a 90-acre farm with this many added attractions, plus a track record of selling out early, suggests real demand — especially on the first weekend after Thanksgiving.
Not specified in the record, though a 90-acre farm with multiple attractions likely has a defined lot or field area rather than roadside parking; this is a reasonable inference, not a confirmed detail.
Not addressed in the sources reviewed.
Skip planning a visit for the last week of the season without calling first, since the farm reportedly sold out and closed before its planned end date in 2025.
Not documented in the record.
The farm's stated rule is the Saturday before Thanksgiving through Dec. 23, which for 2026 works out to Nov. 21 - Dec. 23, daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m. This is the farm's planned schedule; in 2025 the farm reportedly sold out and closed before its stated end date.
Goats, a mini-donut vendor (Huey's Mini Donuts), a custom-made pallet maze, and a basketball wagon — a larger activity list than most farms in this research.
Yes, both cut-your-own and pre-cut (grab-a-precut) options are offered.
Not guaranteed. A source noted the farm sold out and closed early before its normal end date during the 2025 season, so visitors aiming for late-season dates should call ahead to confirm trees remain.
November 21 – December 23, 2026. Daily. Hours: 9:00am-5:00pm daily.
Pricing was not published when we last checked.
Yes. It's cut-your-own and choose-and-cut (staff cuts it for you).
58976 290th St, Cambridge, IA 50046, in Story County. It is one of 6 farms we track in Des Moines Region IA.
We track 6 farms in Des Moines Region IA, 6 of which let you cut your own tree. The farm has not published a starting price, so it cannot be compared on cost — call before you budget.
Its season runs about 33 days against a regional average of 27, so it is a notably longer window than most of its neighbours, which takes the pressure off picking a weekend.
What sets it apart locally: it has a petting area, a hayride or sleigh ride, which most Des Moines Region IA farms on our list do not.
There is 1 other farm we track in Story County. All Des Moines Region IA farms →
Map pin is set to the town centre. Navigate to the street address above, not the pin.
strautmantreefarm.com · iowastartingline.com
Checked September 2026.