10:00am Check-in
10:15 Introduction
10:30 Visit a Historic House / Butter Making
10:45 All About Candle Dipping
11:00 Rope Twisting Demonstration
11:15 See our Depot Station and Model Train Display
11:30 Discover How Pioneers Did Laundry
11:45 Participate in a School House Lesson / Play with Old Fashioned Toys
12:00 Shop in the General Store*
12:15 Tour Ends**
*All groups have the option of shopping in the General Store. If your group opts not to shop, you will instead visit the Terry Store, a historical store exhibit. Proceeds from our General Store help support our education programs.
**Picnic area available adjacent to Cracker Country following the end of your tour.

Bring money for souvenirs. Each group will have the opportunity to visit our gift shop. In the Cracker Country General Store you will find a wide selection of historical toys, games, candy, books, 1890s reproductions and much more. Prices start at an affordable $0.50.

The General Store accepts cash, Visa, Master Card, and personal checks with ID. No checks or credit cards accepted from students.

We need your help!

Each shopping experience is limited to 15 minutes. Please help your students with their purchases and assist them at the checkout.

The Rural Home Life School Tour program aligns with a variety of Florida School Standards including many Social Studies Standards:

1st Grade: Compare life now with life in the past; Understand history tells the story of people and events of other times and places.

2nd grade: Identify terms and designations of time sequence.

3rd grade: Identify the cultures that have settled the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

4th grade: Describe pioneer life in Florida; People have many different types of jobs from which to choose. Identify different jobs requiring people to have different skills.

5th grade: Examine 19th century advancements (canals, roads, steamboats, flat boats, overland wagons, Pony Express, railroads)

Groups are welcome to bring a picnic lunch. Picnic tables and restroom facilities are provided for use after the tour ends at 12:15pm.

Please leave all lunches and coolers in a vehicle until it is time for lunch.

Please note there are no food services facilities on the Fairgrounds.

A $50.00 non-refundable deposit is due within 30 days of booking your field trip. The deposit is required to hold your reservation.

Make checks payable to the Florida State Fair Authority and mail to:
P.O. Box 11766
Tampa, Fl. 33680

Pay Online: https://floridastatefair.ticketspice.com/cracker-country-school-deposits-2023-2024

“The staff was amazing! I loved their wisdom and knowledge they are passing on to the next generation. They shared in a passionate loving way! Excellent field trip!” — Stacey, School Tour Visitor

“ Kid-geared activities, informative tour guide who kept it kid-friendly.” — Tracey, school tour visitor

“ Really believe the kids will get a lot from this. Thank you!” — Jennifer, school tour visitor

“ How amazing and amusing the docents are. My children love Cracker Country! It is their go to museum. I’m so glad it exists and i’m so thankful for the wonderful volunteers.” — Courtney, school tour visitor

“ The hands on experience was phenomenal. Fantastic to see how hard life would have been back then.” — Megan, school tour visitor

“ I will always remember the joy of my students when they get to do what we’ve been learning about in class.” —Tari, school tour visitor

“ The way the guide was able to make Florida history come alive and let the children be part of the experience.” — Karol, school tour visitor