(submitted photo)

By Erika Rolling

Agriculture

Host farm registration for Alberta Open Farm Days closes April 30

May 2, 2023 | 8:55 AM

Farms and ranches that want to be a part of Open Farm Days will need to register by the end of the month to participate in this year’s festivities in August.

The event is a two-day celebration of Alberta agriculture that gives people insight into how food gets to their table through interactive experiences on farms and ranches across the province.

Tim Carson, CEO of Alberta Open Farm Days, says so far, 117 farms have signed up to participate in the 2023 edition.

“You don’t necessarily have to have your full program and exactly what you are doing in line and all prepared just yet but getting into the program will be a tremendous asset for you,” Carson said to producers that are on the fence of registering for the event.

He said there is a tremendous amount of support resources once farms are signed up and getting ready to host.

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“From media training, to how to create a better experience for customers, and all sorts of things that allow you to have a better experience for not only yourself as a host but those attending your farm.”

He says for producers, the opportunity to be able to tell others how their farm operates is one of the gains of being a host farm.

“This is a great chance at looking to diversify your farm income and it is a great retail opportunity if you have that on your farm,” Carson notes.

The family-oriented event can be experienced province-wide from August 19-20, 2023, with many free components included at every site.

In 2022, more than 110 farms hosted and welcomed over 16,000 Albertans to their farms and ranches. Afterward, 92 per cent of farms said they would host again.

Traditional farms with livestock and ranches, as well as organic operations, corn mazes, wineries, distilleries, stables, petting zoos, and u-pick honey, fruit, vegetable and grain farms have participated in the past.

Carson said it’s a great way to travel around the province and see what Alberta has to offer in the agriculture sector as well as learn and get a greater understanding of the industry.

The deadline to register for Alberta Open Farm Days is April 30, 2023, to register click here.