Vermillion, Alta. (Rural Roots Canada) — Handwritten thank-you cards, family recipe collections, and years of face-to-face interactions with customers have helped make community connection a cornerstone of Chatsworth Farm’s success.
During the Alberta Farm Writers Association (AFWA) 2026 spring farm tour, Charlotte Wasylik showcased one example of her family’s commitment: personalized handwritten thank-you cards for customers. Each card included a unique photo and the names of every family member. Although creating the individualized cards is time-consuming, Wasylik says the effort is worthwhile because it gives clients a meaningful keepsake.
“Time is money, but when people have that connection to our farm, it is really special,” says Charlotte.
In the family home’s garage, Charlotte described how, with the help of her mother, Johanna, handmade recipe cards are created. After being printed at the local print shop, the cards are given to customers so they can recreate recipes using meat and produce purchased from the farm.
The farm-to-table program began on a small scale, with family members personally delivering every order. Today, the integration of Local Line, an online platform that allows local farms to sell their produce, along with designated parking-lot pickup locations, has made the process easier and more efficient.
“Many farmers don’t get the opportunity to connect directly with the people who are eating their food, so they know that their food is being raised and produced, and it’s going somewhere, but they don’t actually get feedback, or a verbal thank you,” says Charlotte.
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She adds that watching customers’ families grow, and knowing their children are being raised on Chatsworth Farm products, has been especially rewarding.
The Vermillion-area family-run farm began hosting Open Farm Days in the summer of 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Inspired by the Cincinnati Zoo’s virtual safaris, Chatsworth Farm launched virtual farm tours. This generated public interest in seeing the farm in person. The program eventually expanded into the in-person tours offered today.
A new addition to the attractions is the animal train, a line of wooden and barrel animal carts, handmade and painted by her father, Rick, and pulled behind the farm’s tractor.
For Charlotte, one of the advantages of operating within a smaller community is the opportunity to build deeper relationships with customers and local businesses. She says partnerships with larger organizations are also key pillars of the farm’s success, helping connect Chatsworth Farm products to broader markets. Together, local and national partnerships contribute to the success of Open Farm Days, bringing together local food vendors, beverage producers, musicians, artisans and essential services such as porta-potty and hand-wash stations.
Looking ahead, Wasylik hopes to expand the farm’s sheep flock and livestock sales while working with programs to improve and maintain their grasslands and pastures. She’s also looking at increasing efficiency by adding a walk-in freezer for meat products.
This summer, they plan to install a stand featuring Chatsworth Farm products along a nearby highway to attract new customers and continue strengthening community connections.
