Hey Winnipeg, ever wondered about what your rural neighbours get up to when they’re not visiting you in the city? This Sunday is your chance take a field trip, pack a picnic, and find out!

 The Department of Agriculture Food and Rural Development is hosting their 7th Annual Manitoba Open Farm Day, which gives Manitobans the unique opportunity to broaden their knowledge of agriculture and the vital role that the industry plays in our province. All day Sunday, September 18th, you will have the chance to participate in any number of 44 sites, including farms, museums, and historical walking tours (which all have detailed descriptions and directions in a fantastically well-put together brochure, downloadable on the Open Farm Day website).

“People have no idea how much work goes into these host sites, and the amount of effort the hosts put into making their places into exciting venues that people will want to come and visit,” says Wendy Bulloch, who is the official Open Farm Day Consultant for the Manitoba Association of Agricultural Societies (shortened to MAAS).

“My business partner and I visited every farm prior to Open Farm Day, and it’s really quite fun. The best part is that we get to meet the people behind these agricultural operations, and witness their passion and commitment for the work that they do. One host literally hoses down his entire barn, and begins preparing his place at least 2 days before the actual event.”
Keep in mind, this is a huge commitment for those working on a farm, especially during the busy harvest season.

“But this is their business, their passion, their whole livelihood. And so opening their places to the public is not just an effort to show off their pride as homeowners, but as business owners and producers of food in Manitoba. Not to mention these are wonderful people, who believe so strong in the industry, it really catches you.”

There is certainly a cultural significance to an event like this for Manitobans.
Participants can come away from it, depending on where they go, with a broader perspective on the history of agriculture - if they attend a museum or one of the downtown walking tours. Heading out to a farm, whether it’s a dairy, grain or beef farm, they are sure to come away with a better understanding and perspective of the role that agriculture plays in our province.
Rattling off some stats, in Canada, 1 in 8 jobs are related to the agri-food industry, and at least 95% of Canadian farms are second and third generation family-owned operations.

Bulloch is a strong believer in this event.
“Of course I’m very biased,” she says with a laugh. “I grew up on the original farm that my great grandparents owned - over a century old! Passion for agriculture is just in my blood - as a kid I have very fond memories of farm life, witnessing my grandfather, my dad and my uncle all farming together. And I just believe that we have one of the most economical food sources, producing safe, high-quality food - it’s an industry that we really don’t want to take for granted!”

Brasstacks for your Sunday excursion: If you’re going out into the rural areas, it’ll be quite helpful to have the physical Open Farm Day brochure, which contains detailed directions. Indeed, GPS can be a helpful navigational tool, but in some rural areas where the reception is poor, it’s not a bad idea to have an alternate mode for navigation; Keep in mind that you’re visiting someone else’s home, so be respectful; Dress appropriately! Wear comfortable shoes (not sandals!), and wear layers (even if it is supposed to be a beautiful day!); Pack a picnic lunch, and city folk -- leave your pets at home!

MAAS has also partnered with Manitoba Bed and Breakfast for the event, so if you feel inclined to get the most out of the day, there’s the opportunity to stay the night in rural Manitoba and get an early jump start! For locations, fees, and bookings, visit www.bedandbreakfast.mb.ca.
And for info about the host sites involved, you can check out the Open Farm Day website and download the BROCHURE at www.openfarmday.ca.