Lethbridge (Farming Smarter) – For nearly a decade, Farming Smarter has been one of southern Alberta’s strongest ambassadors of Alberta Open Farm Days, the province-wide initiative that brings the farm to consumers to help them understand the origins of their food.

Held every August, Alberta Open Farm Days is a chance for producers, ag organizations, and food processors to give the public a behind-the-scenes tour to learn, ask questions, and get a hands-on feel for the realities of modern agriculture.

Farms, agriculture businesses, and organizations will open their gates and doors to the public for the two day event on August 16 and 17 this year.

For Farming Smarter, that means transforming its Lethbridge-area research site into an interactive learning hub on Saturday, August 16 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The research site is located at 211034 Hwy 512, Lethbridge County.

“There’s that lack of understanding about what actually happens in the industry, about the practices and knowledge that goes into production,” says Jamie Puchinger, Assistant Manager at Farming Smarter. “We encourage people to come here to Farming Smarter, where we create a learning adventure for them. The topics vary from current production practices, like spraying and seeding, to the equipment and technology involved.”

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Every year, Farming Smarter teams up with a wide range of local partners to set up fun, interactive booths that get people curious about what really goes on in agriculture. They provide simple questions and hands-on activities to break down complex topics, like how much pesticide goes into those huge sprayers you see on the highway. Visitors might even use a pipette to get a feel for how dilution works, making the science easy to understand.

“There’s always a hands-on component at the booths so that they’re actively participating because they learn a little bit better that way,” explains Puchinger. “We like to ensure they have all kinds of information when they leave and have learned a little bit about the industry and what’s happening.”

Also on tap is a wagon tour through the research plots where participants can hop on a trailer and hear about the latest projects and why they matter to farming today.

The booths may change year after year, but the goal remains the same: to connect consumers with the tools, techniques and, most importantly, the facts surrounding modern agriculture. “Essentially, it’s just creating that awareness,” Puchinger adds. “It’s really geared towards getting people to ask questions and learn a little about what’s happening in the industry.”

This year’s Alberta Open Farm Days theme is Water, the Lifeblood of Every Farm. Water, especially irrigation, is a huge part of how southern Alberta farms stay productive, and Farming Smarter plans to highlight just how important it is. “We’re hoping to showcase a larger element of the irrigated sector in southern Alberta, since it’s such an important part of the region’s agriculture industry. But, tying it all into the bigger goal of bringing the community together to learn what agriculture is really all about.”

Alberta Open Farm Days is a great way to get people thinking about where their food starts, from the water to the soil to the technology to the people who make it all possible.

This article first appeared on FarmingSmarter.com.