Crop Cycle combines agriculture with strategy
By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com
So you’ve planted your winter wheat. But another farmer comes along and sabotages your crop by intentionally sowing weeds all over your farm. What would you do?
Probably play your Herbicide card.
Yes, Herbicide card.
A new card game by a Canadian developer puts agriculture in the palm of the players’ hands.
Crop Cycle was developed by Manitoba’s Trevor Lehmann, the son of a retired agricultural scientist, nephew and grandson of a farmer; he’s a high school teacher turned board game developer.
The game sees farmers plant and harvest crops through all four seasons, while having to deal with real agricultural issues including early frosts, herbicide drift, weeds and overwintering.
Lehmann said the game, which he began developing in 2014, can be used to familiarize people with agriculture and experience the emotional connection to it.
Trevor Lehmann holds a box of Crop Cycle
“I wanted to create something that would introduce people to agriculture,” he said. “The game does teach what seasons crops are harvested and planted in, but also convey two of the bigger emotions associated with farming.”
Lehmann said the emotions are ecstasy when everything goes smoothly and frustration when nature doesn’t cooperate with farmers.
The game consists of 108 cards and can be played in between 20 and 40 minutes. He had veteran farmers play the game with successful results.
“I remember sitting at a table with five farmers,” he said. “These were the old school farmers who have been doing it for 40 or 50 years. I was sweating bullets hoping it went well. It was overwhelmingly positive. A lot of them said when an early frost would hit (in the game) and wipe out the crops it felt about right.”
Lehmann said if things go well he would be interested in creating an expansion pack to include livestock.
He said the next thing on his agenda is to do a summer tour to farming communities.
Farmers can buy the game or read its rules at convergentgames.com.