Where do our meat and vegetables, jams and jellies, fruit, cereals and cooking oils, cheese, beer, and all of our other foods come from?

Ultimately they all come from the land, and there are thousands of farms, gardens, and ranches growing our food. This past weekend’s Alberta Open Farm Days invited consumers to come through the farm gate and see what goes on where the food is grown: down on the farm.

Some families and individuals follow the map on a self-guided day trip. The St. Paul Ag Society laid on a bus tour to visit the local host operations.

Kevin Wirsta of K-Cow Ranch near Elk Point says Open Farm Days is an important opportunity for food producers—in his case, cattle ranchers—to show visitors the care and the pride that go into raising good food.

“We’ve always felt that it’s crucial and it’s important to educate our urban fellow people what we actually do on the ranch and on the farm, and what it takes to put this all together and bring food to their table,” Wirsta said.

“It opens their eyes a lot knowing the cost, and how we actually look after stuff here in comparison to what they read and see on Facebook or the papers,” he said. “We’re very down to earth and it’s eye-opening for those people to understand exactly where their food comes from, how it’s handled, how it’s looked after, and how it’s presented.”

Open Farm Days is a fun annual opportunity to get out of town, meet some animals, and come home from a farmers’ market or a farm operation with some great food. For producers, including Wirsta, it’s an important opportunity to connect people with the real world of farming.

“I feel it’s doing our part in educating the “urbans” to have a better understanding of what we actually do out here in animal care and preparation of the products that we sell and present to the public,” he said.

Kevin Wirsta is proud to show visitors how their beef is raised. **JEFF GAYE**

Caouette and Sons offered tractor rides. **JEFF GAYE**

Standing tall at Providence Acres Flower Farm. **JEFF GAYE**

St. Paul Museums demonstrated weaving techniques. **JEFF GAYE**

Meet Max, the train station dog at St. Paul Museums. **JEFF GAYE**

Angus calves at Charlotte Lake Farms. **JEFF GAYE**

Providence Acres Flower Farm is dealing with the same weather challenges that food producers face, but their Open Farm Days visitors were treated to the sight of thousands of beautiful blossoms. **JEFF GAYE**

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Open Farm Days: fun for visitors, important for producers