YORKTON - Increasingly farmers themselves, and the agriculture sector in general must invest some effort to educate consumers about where food actually comes from, and how it is safely produced.
That effort might seem expected in a large city like Vancouver, Montreal, or Toronto, but it will surprise many how important that effort even in a largely agrarian province such as Saskatchewan.
We might assume most here know about where their food comes from, mere miles from fields of wheat and canola, or pasture where cattle graze, but that is not the case.
Even in a small community area such as Norquay, the knowledge of farming can be scant for many.
That was noted in a recent interview with Jennifer Lindgren.
Lindgren Farms, near Norquay was recently involved in an ongoing opportunity for children of their community via a Food Farm event. As a local family farm, the Lindgrens have been sharing the story of agriculture and teaching children where their food comes from for several years. Their “aim is to provide accurate information early on, building a solid foundation of knowledge and fostering a genuine appreciation for the agricultural industry,” noted a release on the event.
In collaboration with Ag in the Classroom, Lindgren Farms has partnered with local schools to create an immersive educational experience at the Food Farm. “The focus is to introduce children to planting and seeding, equipping them with knowledge about the tools and equipment farmers use, and enlightening them about the crucial elements required for successful crop growth. They'll learn about soil health and fertility, seed identification, crop management, and pest control, ensuring that children gain a comprehensive understanding of the farming process,” noted the release.
Jennifer Lindgren, said every year she is surprised how many youngsters are unsure of things a farmer takes for granted, like butter coming from a cow.
The Lindgrens effort is mirrored in the annual Yorkton-based ‘Pizza Farm’ program that provides youth some hands-on insight into farming too.
That educational effort was seen in August locally too, when the Prybylski family who farm northwest of Willowbrook opened their farm to public tours as part of the inaugural Saskatchewan Open Farm Days.
The initiative was held through Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan in partnership with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture and Tourism Saskatchewan as a way to “foster a deeper connection between Saskatchewan’s residents, its vibrant agricultural sector and agritourism,” said an event release at the time.
“Our primary goal was to give people not familiar with a farm to come out and see what we do,” offered Bill Prybylski in a Yorkton This Week interview at the time.
Prybylski explained that they had a few displays showing actual examples of grain alongside some grocery products made from the grain, and were doing field and pasture tours so those attending could see production up close.
“It’s to give them a bit of an idea where their food comes from,” he said.
The same reasoning will go into school tours scheduled for the upcoming Grain Millers Harvest Showdown in the city, where hundreds of students visit a series of ‘knowledge’ stations learning about various aspects of farming.
All four efforts have a simple goal, to create a more knowledgeable consumer regarding just what goes into the food on their tables and that is an extremely important effort.
