Day at the Farm, one of Delta’s most popular late-summer family events, returns to Westham Island Herb Farm (4690 Kirkland Road) on Saturday, Sept. 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Day at the Farm (DATF) has evolved impressively throughout its 20-year history.
Valerie Miller, of DATF presenters Delta Farmland & Wildlife Trust, notes that the event began in 2004 under the much less compelling name Farm Awareness Day and consisted of little more than hay bales and some signage in the parking lot of Ladner Village Market. It relocated in 2007 to Westham Island Herb Farm.
Last year’s DATF is estimated to have drawn roughly 5,000 attendees.
“The original intent was to build awareness of the value of local farms,” says Miller, “but it also addressed the unspoken value that farmland provides to both resident and migratory waterfowl and other birds.
“It was an opportunity for the general public to see for themselves what farmers in Delta were doing — what they were growing and what was involved in local agriculture.”
Miller adds that while some long-time attractions, including a display of vintage tractors, remain as popular as ever, organizers strive to add new ones as often as possible. Participatory attractions, such as hay-wagon rides and a potato dig, draw especially enthusiastic crowds.
This year’s DATF also includes performances from music duo Thorn and Sparrow and singer-songwriter Andrew Schneider; cookie-and jam-making contests; educational displays; farm animals; a selection of food trucks; and more.
Miller and her colleagues are thrilled that DATF provides not just a fun day out for attendees of all ages, but that it continues to heighten awareness about the importance of the work farmers do — locally and all over the world.
“We’ve done exit surveys, and in the last two years there’s been an email survey for people who signed up, and we asked them questions about what they’d learned, what their takeaways were from the event, and it’s been gratifying to us that so many people acknowledge they learned more about the importance of supporting local agriculture,” Miller said.
Admission to DATF is free, but attendees must reserve tickets in advance.
Visit deltafarmland.ca/a-day-at-the-farm for this and to learn more about the event.
