The second annual Open Farm Day saw many people come out to witness how different farms operate.  Over 40 participating host farms participate in the event.
This annual event is an opportunity to watch demonstrations, ask questions and even buy products produced on the farms.
Benner Holsteins is one of a very few farms that uses a Robot to milk the cows.  Dairy farmer Donald Penner says "We are opening our doors to the public so they can see how milk is produced and the care that is given to the animals."  Penner has 800 head of cattle that produces about 9000 litres of milk per day.
Penner notes the machine milks the cows automatically which makes it a less tedious job.
About 1200 people visited Benner Holsteins last year, and Penner hopes to see that number increase more each year.



Alain Nadeau of Renaissance Bison Farms answered questions about his herd of 100 bison while standing a mere twenty feet away from them.  Nadeau is excited to open the doors to his farm., he says "I love it because it reconnects the people with farms.  There's less and less kids being brought up on farms so this is a way to bring them back and show them what it is all about."
Nadeau has been raising bison for about 10 years.  Bison are raised naturally.  No antibiotics
and no hormone shots are given.  Nadeau notes the best time to butcher is in fall as the animals have been eating grass all summer and the meat is most flavourful.



Just in time for Halloween, John and Shirley Penner of Scarecrow Forest welcomed guests with displays of pumpkins and gourds as you enter the farm.  A live band played while kids enjoyed the many activities of playing in a "corn" box instead of the traditional sand box.  Kernels of corn filled this popular activity centre.
The scarecrow forest was also a busy activity especially after the exciting train ride through the farm.  
Further into the farm, children were able to enjoy pony rides, get up close to a goat and pet him, and even touch the cows.
Penner says last years event saw about 750 guests.  Attendance was down this year and he feels it was partly due to the election coming up.
Penner notes "For us as a farm it is obviously promotion, but most important is the fun.  We have zip lines, rope mazes, petting farms and of course the scarecrow forest. At this point as far as sales the big items are pumpkins and gourds. It is nice to see the crowd out having fun."

At each farm visited, guests could enter their name to win a GPS unit from Prairie Geometric's.