Open Farm Days will be busy across southern Alberta
Open Farm Days in Alberta goes August 18-19. Families will have the ability to visit participating farms across the province.
Below is a list of those particpating across Southern Alberta:
ASPEN CROSSING near Mossleigh August 18
Farm type: Tourism venue.
Start time: 9 a.m.; End time: 4:30 p.m. Free Mossleigh grain elevator tours at 12 pm and 2 pm/ Short Aspen Crossing Railway Tours (1 Hour Duration) at 11 a.m., 1 p.m, and 3 p.m. Adults $25, children 25 months-14 years $15, children under 24 months free.
Kids activities, market, photo booth, scavenger hunt, visit animals, and more. A wide variety of activities and something for everyone. Also visit our tavern and restaurant if you are in need of drink.
BROEK PORK ACRES near Coalhurst August 18
Farm type: Pasture to Plate Pork operation.
Start time: 9 a.m.; End time: 4 p.m. We will tour our farm and explain how we handle our operation. Guests will have the opportunity to pet and feed the piglets and take a wagon ride across the field to our new butcher facility. Tour our new Butcher shop facility and farm store and feel free to bring a cooler to purchase some product.
We will supply free sausage samples.
BROOKS CORN MAZE near Brooks August 18-19
Farm type: Corn maze, U-pick, farm produce.
Start time: 1 p.m.; End time: 5:30 p.m. Corn Maze, children’s games, fresh produce in season, goats and bunnies.
BROXBURN VEGETABLES near Lethbridge- August 18
Farm type: Market garden with country cafe,
Start time: 10 a.m.; End time: 4 p.m. Take a tour of our greenhouse and explore the beautiful land. Activities for kids including hay rides. Farm store and restaurant with chef on site.
There will be two tours. One at 10:30 a.m. and the other at 1:30 p.m.
BYLSMA FARMS INC near Cranford August 18
Farm type: Broiler farm,
Start time: 9 a.m.; End time: 5 p.m. Come witness our three-day old chicks. Learn about how we grow our chickens from the hatchery until they are ready for the meat market. Additional activities including visiting with rabbits, goats, and even pedal go cart racing.
CANADIAN GRAIN ELEVATOR DISCOVERY CENTRE near Nanton August 18
Farm type: Non-functional grain elevator giving tours.
Start time: 10 a.m.; End time: 4 p.m. Walk in tour to coal shed, 1940’s furnished pioneer home and the grain elevator. Our newest addition is a wheelchair accessible washroom.
CLOVERLEAF COLONY FARMING near Delia, Drumheller- August 18
Farm type: Hutterite Colony- mixed farm, including grain, greenhouse, hogs, chickens.
Start time: 9 a.m.; End time: 5 p.m. Experience life on a Hutterite colony – tours of kitchen, shop, view equipment, animals. NO PETS ALLOWED.
DNA GARDENS near Drumheller, Elnora- August 18-19
Farm type: Fruit orchard and farm kitchen
Start time: 10 a.m.; End time: 6 p.m. Farm fresh gelato featuring our own black currant and cherries. Cherry pies and uber healthy juices cold pressed. Tours of many varieties of fruit trees and orchards and general show and tell of combines and cherry pitting operation. Perhaps fresh squeezed apple juice depending on the season. You know we have to work with mother nature!
EASTERN IRRIGATION DISTRICT near Brooks- August 18
Farm type: Irrigation district
Start time: 10 a.m.; End time: 3 p.m. There will be two tours of our Dam. The first starts at 10 a.m. and the second starts at 1 p.m.PM. Each tour will take approximately 1.5-2 hours.
Tour Overview:
Scenic Viewpoint/Parking Lot: Upon exiting the vehicle at this location, participants will be able to observe the entire dam and spillway structure as well as the start of the EID’s main canal. Your tour guides will provide an overview of the history and background of the Eastern Irrigation District demonstrating to the participants the importance of the water delivery system to agriculture, industry and the region.
The Dam and Spillway from above ground: Participants will be able to visit the control tower of the Bassano Dam and will walk across the spillway structure to observe the gates, hoists, friction wall and concrete spillway from a closer perspective. Discussion will focus on historical and future construction activities, operation of and operational technologies used in the running of the dam and Provincial water management policy.
Walking under the Bow River: As the spillway structure is a hollow core concrete dam, during this portion of the tour participants will descend multiple flights of stairs to walk through the centre of the structure via the observation deck. Here participants experience an interesting perspective of the 100 year spillway structure.
*Please Note we can only accommodate about 20 adults per tour. Please preresister with our Admin staff by 3 p.m. on August 17 by calling 403-362-1400.
*Due to the nature of the facility (there will be the equivalent of seven flights of stairs to go up and seven flights of stairs to go down) the tour cannot accommodate strollers, wheel chairs or anyone with limited mobility.
FARMING SMARTER ASSOCIATION near Lethbridge- August 18
Farm type: Agriculture Applied Research.
Start time: 10:30 a.m.; End time: 2 p.m.
Farming Smarter puts on a day of Learning Adventures for young and old alike at its research site on the eastern edge of Lethbridge. Expect to learn fascinating facts, have a ton of fun and experience farm activities 1st hand. Please visit the site and register for one of the wagon rides to make sure you have the most fun. You will talk about your Farming Smarter experience for years to come!
FLAGHILL RANCH near Craigmyle, Drumheller- August 18
Farm type: Cow/calf operation/grassfed beef,
Start time: 10 a.m.; End time: 4 p.m.
Flaghill Ranch is a family farm owned and operated since 1983, our farm specializes in producing quality grass-fed black angus beef.
Come join us at the farm for a delicious roast beef lunch, meet the cows behind the operation and learn about on farm solar energy and environmental stewardship practices. Spend the day learning the benefits behind pasture to plate meat and soaking in the fresh air of the countryside. Complementary Lunch 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Hay Ride Farm Tours 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
GRAINWORKS near Mossleigh, Vulcan August 18
Farm type: Producer, miller and distributer of organic grains, seeds, and legumes.
Start time: 9 a.m.; End time: 4 p.m. Tour of facilities and processing plants. Products available for purchase.
LIVLIFELIVERY FARM near Mossleigh August 18
Farm type: Livestock and garden. Start time: 9 a.m.; End time: 5 p.m. Come see how animals are raised and garden. There will also be an egg hunt.
MITCHELL BROS. RANCHES LTD. near Fort Macleod, Pincher Creek- August 19
Farm type: Cattle ranch- 100% grass fed beef.
Start time: 12 p.m.; End time: 5 p.m. There will be Ranch and Range tours as well as beef sample tasting. Come experience music, educational opportunities, and games – bocce, horseshoes, soccer.
MORRIN CORNER BISON near Drumheller, Morrin- August 18
Farm type: Bison farm/ranch.
Start time 10 a.m.; End time: 5 p.m.
Hourly tours to see our bison herd and our handling facility. Tasting samples, burgers for lunch. Bison jerky and pepperoni available for purchase. There will also be a Authentic Chuckwagon Cooking Demonstration where someone will cook bison from a real chuckwagon.
PERRY SPUD FARM near Coaldale, Lethbridge-Aug. 18 Farm type: Potato farm
Start time: 10 a.m.; End time: 12 p.m.
This is a community potato day event to showcase home grown Alberta produce, and promote local grown fresh potatoes. Potatoes are a thriving industry in Alberta, come and see how they are grown and lifted. 1 mile north of the Perry Potato Domes near Chin.
PREMIUM SAUSAGE (2009) INC near Seven Persons- August 18
Farm type: Meat/sausage producer. Start time: 11 a.m.; End time: 3 p.m. Come for tours on the hour at 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m, and 2 p.m.
Barbecue will be running outside from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Mini sausage on a bun for $2.00 or 3/$5.
Try free samples of other local products including jams and mustard.
Our store is open from 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. if you would like to purchase products outside of Open Farm Days hours.
TRAIL'S END BEEF near Nanton August 18
Farm type: Grass-fed beef ranch. Start time: 10 a.m.; End time: 5 p.m. Join our family for a relaxed day in the barnyard of our family ranch. Casually explore the barn and gardens, meet the animals, let your kids roam with ours, sip lemonade, and shop for grassfed beef, eggs, honey, and history books. Most importantly, connect with the people growing your food. Bring your curiosity and questions!
WINDY RAFTERS BARN DANCE near Fort Macleod- August 18
Farm type: Mixed farming, tours of historical barn, school, homestead cabin, and machinery.
Start time: 9 a.m.; End time: 9 p.m. Activities include (on a rotational basis): Historic Work Horse Barn & Hay Wagon tour. Homestead Cabin Replica & Historic Orton School tour.
Rope making demonstration. Horse Shoes fame instruction & game. Simulated Cow Milking. Western Line Dance instruction & Dance. Lunch concession. Season dependent – combine rides.