Part of Agri-News

Record Growth for Alberta Open Farm Days 2024

Over 50,000 Albertans visited farms and participated in culinary events during Open Farm Days in 2024.

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See event listings and more articles in this edition of Agri-News: January 28, 2025 issue

Alberta Open Farm Days is a 2-day summer event that presents Albertans with an opportunity to experience the farm firsthand from farmers and ranchers. From its beginnings in 2013, the program has encouraged Albertans to engage with their local communities and experience agri-tourism.

In 2024, Alberta Open Farm Days saw exponential growth. “We were very excited about Alberta Open Farm Days 2024,” says Tim Carson, CEO, Alberta Association of Agricultural Societies. “We saw a notable increase in the number of participating farms, with more than 150 farms opening their doors to Albertans. Visitor numbers also rose significantly, jumping from nearly 36,000 in 2023 to over 52,000 in 2024."

Since its inception, Alberta Open Farm Days participating farms have generated more than $1.7 million in sales of goods to Albertans during the event. In 2024, on-farm sales surpassed $300,000 for the first time, highlighting that visitors are eager to support Alberta's agricultural industry.

“Since its humble beginnings, Alberta Open Farm Days has grown and many hosts have grown along with it,” says Carson. “We are confident the future will continue to provide new and fun ways to discover and experience the Alberta agriculture story.”

Over the years, Alberta Open Farm Days has also evolved to offer professional development opportunities for hosts, helping them build successful ag-tourism programs. Training sessions were provided to equip farms with valuable insights on marketing, ticketing, food planning and booking, as well as insurance.

Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation is proud to work with Travel Alberta to support Alberta Open Farm Days and bring education, innovative and informative agri-tourism to rural Alberta. “Registration is now open for 2025,” says Carson. “Mark your calendars for the 13th annual Alberta Open Farm Days on August 16 and 17 and come and meet your rural neighbours.”

Contact

For more information, connect with the Alberta Association of Agricultural Societies:

Phone: 780-427-2174
Email:  info@openfarmdays.ca

Or connect with 310-FARM for more information.

Phone: 310-FARM (3276)
Email: 310farm@gov.ab.ca

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