By Drew Spoelstra, President, Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Last weekend, my family and I had the privilege of welcoming thousands of visitors to our farm in Binbrook near Hamilton as the hosts of Breakfast on the Farm, an event organized several times a year by Farm & Food Care Ontario in various locations across Ontario.
For farmers, opening our farms to the public is not something we do every day. Farming is our workplace, our livelihood and, for most of us, also our home. But events like Breakfast on the Farm provide an opportunity that is simply too valuable to pass up: the chance to connect directly with the people we grow food for and show firsthand the skill, passion and, yes, technology that goes into food production today.
For many visitors, this was their first time setting foot on a working farm. They had the opportunity to tour our barn, see many types of farm animals up close, learn about animal care, food safety and environmental stewardship, and ask questions directly to farmers and industry experts. Visitors could also climb onto tractors and other farm equipment, getting a firsthand look at the technology and innovation that farmers use every day.
One of the highlights of the day was the birth of a calf during the event — a reminder that farming is not a display or an exhibit, but a living, working business that continues every day of the year.
What stood out most, however, were the conversations.
One of the greatest strengths of Breakfast on the Farm is that it creates opportunities for consumers and farmers to talk face to face about food and farming — no filters, headlines or social media algorithms involved.
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