On June 24, 2017, Breakfast on the Farm will be hosted at the Donkers Family Farm near Shedden, Ontario. This is the first time that the event has been held on an Ontario dairy goat farm.
It will be the seventh Breakfast on the Farm hosted by Farm & Food Care Ontario since 2013; to date, almost 12,000 people have been fed, entertained and engaged at the events. Organizers are expecting between 2,500 and 3,000 people to attend the June event.
Breakfast on the Farm provides a unique opportunity for farmers and non‐farming Ontarians to have a conversation about food and farming. It gives visitors the chance to visit a real, working farm, provides a showcase for agriculture and gives non-farmers the opportunity to have their questions answered by real farmers.
After being treated to an all-Ontario breakfast featuring eggs, pancakes, sausage and more, visitors will be able to tour the dairy goat farm and meet hundreds of goats. Interactive stops around the farm will include many displays, activities and exhibits that showcase other types of farms in Ontario. There will also be more than 100 Ontario farmers on hand to answer guests’ questions about food and farming.
This year’s event is taking place at Donkers Family Farm near Shedden. The farm has been owned and operated by the Donkers family for 55 years. Today, it’s run by Ed Donkers who milks 900 goats – with about 1700 goats on the farm in total . Milk from the farm is used in the production of specialty cheeses which is one of the fastest growing markets in Ontario agriculture.
Donkers said that he is excited to be hosting this year’s event. “I’ve been wanting to host an open house like this for several years,” he commented. “Partnering with Farm & Food Care on Breakfast on the Farm is a great way of showing the public how goats are raised and cared for on Ontario farms.
This event will run from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm, with breakfast being served until 11:30 a.m. The farm tours wrap up by 1:00 p.m. It is a free event, though preregistration is required. The first 2,000 visitors are guaranteed breakfast.
Farm & Food Care Ontario is again looking for those willing to share their time and passion for local food. Approximately 150 volunteers are needed on the day of the event.
Source: Farmfoodcare