The seventh annual Alberta Open Farm Days runs Aug. 17 and 18
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
Several Alberta producers will open their farm gates to visitors this weekend as part of the seventh annual Alberta Open Farm Days.
More than 100 farms and agribusinesses will participate in the event, which caps off Alberta Local Food Week and celebrates local food.
Among the host farms is Adams Land & Livestock, which is taking part for the first time.
The 7,200-acre grain operation near Munson, Alta. will show visitors what crops it produces and have a seed-to-consumer display. Despite its name, the farm hasn’t had livestock since 2000.
The family is participating in Open Farm Days to help educate consumers, said Terra Adams, who farms with her husband Brett.
“I think it’s interesting that people drive down the road and see canola fields or flax fields but don’t know how it affects them,” she told Farms.com. “We want to help visitors understand that the canola helps fry McDonald’s fries, or that the flax we’re growing gets used in everything from PVC pipe to deck stain to seeds they can bake with.”
Some farm machinery will also be on display.
Many people can identify what a piece of equipment is but can’t explain what it does, Adams said.
“We’re going to have some machinery out to help explain how it all works,” she said. “People see tractors and combines rolling down the road but don’t understand how (this equipment) works on the farm.”
Doornenbal Dairy in Ponoka, Alta is another farm welcoming visitors this weekend.
The hosts will show off their robotic equipment to help attendees understand how important technology is to the industry, said Hennie Doornenbal, who produces milk with her husband Peter.
“A lot of people don’t know where their milk comes from and don’t understand the technological advancements on farm,” she told Farms.com. “We’re hoping to provide that kind of understanding while also showing that we care about our animals and raise them with love.”