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BARRHEAD/WESTLOCK — A number of agricultural operations around Barrhead and Westlock will be opening their gates to visitors and educating them about where their food comes from during Alberta Open Farm Days on Aug. 13-14, 2022.
Alberta Open Farm Days, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, is an annual event meant to showcase agriculture’s diverse impact on the province.
More than 800 farms have taken part in Alberta Open Farm Days over the past decade, and participating operations have had more than 150,000 farm visits.
More information about which farms are participating, what days they are open, what activities are on offer and directions to each operation can be found by visiting the website (albertaopenfarmdays.ca).
Among the first-time participants is Alberta Hemp Works, which will be hosting a farmer’s market with farm-made food and crafts from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 13-14 at "the Mill” about five minutes east of Barrhead.
Elise St. Germain of Alberta Hemp Works said “the Mill” is the nickname for their operation, which is housed out of an old lumber mill.
“As an operation, we’ve been around for a couple years, but we just wanted to give people a chance to come out and learn a little bit more about what we do … and learn more about hemp in general,” she said.
“There’s still some misconceptions about hemp and industrial hemp in particular … There’s lots you can do with industrial hemp.”
St. Germain said they’re not showing their processing line, which is why they’re doing more of a farmer’s market. But there will be some small demos, and if all goes well, perhaps they will be able to give full tours in the future.
Incidentally, there will be a barbecue offered by Droptine Custom Meats during the farmer's market.
Another first-time participant is Van Assen Farms Ltd., which is located northeast of Barrhead near Naples. Steven and Joanne Van Assen’s farm will be open to visitors only on Saturday, Aug. 13.
“They contacted us a little while ago and asked if we would participate, and we said, ‘Well, we can try it out,’” said Steven Van Assen.
Notably, the operation is also a stop on the County of Barrhead tour that will be taking place on Wednesday, Aug. 10.
The main draw at the farm will be its stone mill, which Steven notes was built over the winter and has been up and running since this spring.
"We sold some wheat to a couple family and friends … And we thought there seemed to be some interest in that, so we went out and bought a stone burr mill and went from there,” he said.
This is how wheat was milled years and years ago, Steven said, noting that every little town had its own stone mill.
“This is back to the old style again,” he said, noting that it keeps the wheat a lot cooler.
Of course, not all the operations participating in Alberta Open Farm Days are just getting involved for the first time. 2022 will mark the third year that Ehrenholz Farms, located southwest of Barrhead, has participated.
The host for the visitors on Saturday will be the current owner, Valerie Ehrenholz, though she will be helped out by her parents Ewald and Janet and her sister Janna.
Valerie said their first year participating in Alberta Open Farm Days was fairly slow with only 20 visitors or so, but last year they had well over 50, including some visitors from urban areas.
“When I did my first Open Farm Days, I was just starting to get into direct selling of my beef, so I was hoping to attract more customers. But also, I find that education is really important when it comes to agriculture, because so many people are far removed from it now, and they don’t know what happens on a farm,” she said.
According to the website, this farm — which has been in the Ehrenholz family for 70 years — recently re-focused to produce local food, specifically beef and vegetables.
In addition to tours and getting an up-close look at farm animals, gardens and farm equipment, the website states there will be a lesson in “bovine anatomy” for visitors.
Valerie explained they will be showing kids different parts of cattle, such as horns, hides, hooves and skulls, and they will also have a “flow chart” for them to figure out whether they’re looking at a cow or a bull.
“That’s one of the main questions I get,” she said.
Other participating operations in the Barrhead area include De Herdt Gardens Ltd. and Elieneke’s Bake Shop, which can be found in the town itself, and the “Happiness is Homemade … and found” country craft shop, which is located south of Barrhead.
In Westlock County, local participants include Triple Lyoness Farm at Dapp; Twisted Pine Farms southwest of town; and Pimio Farms Inc., which can be found a 20-minute drive northwest of Westlock.
