Clinton News Record, 2016-07-13, Page 22 News Record • Wednesday, July 13, 2016
Justine Alkema
Clinton News Record
Breakfast on the farm was
far more popular than the
Bayfield Agricultural Society
could have predicted when
they planned the event.
The event, which took
place on Steenbeek Dairy
Farms Inc. in Varna on July 2,
saw around 1000 visitors
from as far away as Kitch-
ener, Toronto and even the
States. They ended up only
serving breakfast to 530 of
those visitors since that was
all the food they had
planned for. However those
who didn't eat breakfast
enjoyed everything else the
event had to offer including
tours of the farm, various
groups to answer questions
about agriculture, activities
for kids including a bouncy
castle and more.
Steenbeek Dairy Farms
Inc., where the event was
held, has over 300 cows on
550 acres. They served the
meal in one of the dry sheds
on the property. Most of the
food including the eggs, sau-
sage, milk and butter was
donated by boards and other
groups.
The society had advertised
the event in several places
including in the Focus news-
paper, on the radio, with
road signs and on social
media.
"The purpose of the even
was to educate agriculture to
people who are not aware of
how agriculture is con-
ducted in the modern age,"
said organizer Jentje Steen-
beek. "Lots of urban people
came out who wanted to see
a farm."
He noted that many people
who are not involved with
farming have inaccurate
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530 people were served breakfast on the Varna farm on July 2.
knowledge or assumptions
about it. For example, some
people believe that brown
milk comes from brown cows.
Steenbeek noted that they
were also concerned with
demonstrating how well the
animals on the farm were
treated, as some people
believe animals are not
treated well on farms.
The event was put on by
the Bayfield Agriculture
Society with the help of the
Bayfield Lions club after
Steeneek had when he called
a "brain wave" about agri-
culture societies.
He noted that most of
what agriculture societies
do is put on fairs. While this
is a good thing, the man-
date from the province is
that they should hold a
variety of events to pro-
mote agriculture.
"I thought it would be a
great fit for our community,"
Photo courtesy of Jentje Steenbeek
Contributed photo
A cow -shaped bouncy castle.
Contributed photo
People came to the event all over including Kitchener, Toronto and
the States.
said Steeneek. "When I
threw the idea to our direc-
tors, they liked it."
The event was such a success
that they will likely hold it again
next year. Though, of course,
this is always dependant on
how many volunteers they can
get. They may do it on a differ-
ent farm, possibly a farm with a
variety of animals.
To serve the demand, they
will likely also have more
food prepared next year.
One visitor lets a calf lick her hand.
Contributed photo
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