Two local farms are getting ready to open their gates to the public as part of the province-wide initiative to get more people in the know about agriculture.
Muriel Creek Cattle Company and Rocky Meadows Country Get Away, both located in the MD of Bonnyville, have signed up for this year's Open Farm Days.
“I think it's a great way to get city and town people out to the country. There are not a lot of opportunities to go out on a farm, so this gives people that opportunity,” said Lori Toker, owner of the family-run Rocky Meadows.
This will be the second year Rocky Meadows is taking part in Open Farm Days, after being involved in its first year running. While they only saw about 12 visitors, Toker expects the turnout to be much better this time around as the event has grown substantially.
Now in it's fourth year, Open Farm Days 2016 has attracted a record number of host farms and ranches across Alberta. There are 94 farms, ranches, and ag-tourism operators who will be welcoming visitors and 23 culinary events planned for the two-day extravaganza, which runs Aug. 20 and 21.
“Alberta has some of the finest and most innovative producers and agriculture-based businesses in the world. Open Farm Days is a wonderful opportunities for our agriculture sector to showcase the great work they do to ensure safe, nutritious and delicious food reaches our tables every day,” said Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Oneil Carlier. “I hope Albertans will come out to experience our province's food production sector and meet some outstanding producers.”
For Muriel Creek Cattle, it will be their first experience as an Open Farm Days host. However, the local farm isn't green when it comes to showing off their daily operations.
Since opening in 1998, owners Greg and Tina Sawchuk have been giving tours of their family farm, particularly to school and other children's groups.
“It's just nice to get people out here, back onto the farm, into the fresh air, and to see how things are grown,” said Greg Sawchuk.
He added, “The general public are getting further and further away from the farm. We see it when we do a lot of the school tours that the knowledge of how food is grown is kind of lacking.”
That sentiment is one echoed by Toker. With a u-pick berry farm, mini golf course, and campground, Rocky Meadows regularly sees a variety of visitors. Toker said it always comes as a shock when people don't realize where their food comes from.
“Someone I met didn't know that the cucumbers that grow in your garden are what makes the pickles you buy in the store. They were like, ‘you mean that's what a pickle starts as,' and for me it's just like ‘wow, people aren't being taught this.' You just go to the story and buy everything.”
Visitors heading out to Rocky Meadows for Open Farm Days will be able to pick in-season berries from their u-pick berry farm, which features a variety of fruits including choke cherries, saskatoons, and sea buckthorns. The café will be open to offer homemade pies, jams and jellies made from the berries.
“We've actually got a mini golf made out of farm machinery. So they can play mini golf, but also see how the farm machinery looks and we can explain to them how it works if they've never seen it,” noted Toker.
Those making their way out to Muriel Creek Cattle Co. will learn about an alternative way of farming. While there will still be the typical farm animals nearby – cattle, poultry, and their 2,800-pound lead steer – the farm focuses on grass-fed beef, pastured poultry and is known for its emphasis on solar energy.
“We felt it was important to show an alternative way of raising food. A lot of what we do is different then what the commercial producers are doing,” explained Sawchuk, adding that overall, the lesson is still the same.
“They'll see a little bit of what goes into running a farm, a general understanding of what it actually takes to bring a steak to their table. It's not just as simple as having a cow out in the field.”
Open Farm Days is a free event for anyone in Alberta wishing to participate. Each host farm, ranch, or business will be letting visitors in at no charge. Muriel Creek Cattle Co. will be a host on Aug. 21. Rocky Meadows will also be open on Aug. 21 from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.
For more information, go to albertafarmdays.com.
