Open Farm Sunday, an annual open day for the public to learn about farming is celebrating its 18th anniversary this year, focusing on bringing unique stories to farming’s centre stage.
Managed by Linking Environment And Farming (LEAF), the event will take place on 9 June, opening the farm gates to connect with the public and to promote the values of nature farming.
The event runs thanks to active farmer engagement, which will be campaigned for starting on 20 March with an on-farm event at Bragborough Hall in Northamptonshire.
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Open Farm Sunday manager, Annabel Shackleton, says they want to inspire even more farmers to host events this year:
“Every farm’s story deserves to be heard, appreciated, and understood. There’s a fantastic opportunity to engage more of the public with how their food is produced and show our farmers as guardians of the earth.
“Opening your gates and sharing your farming stories, opens the public’s mind to discover the world of farming. Whatever the scale or type of event you choose to organise, every event matters and every farm can benefit from being involved.
“The magic happens when visitors talk with farmers and see farming firsthand. The conversations have a lasting positive impact helping people to value the work farmers do, the food they eat and to make more informed food choices. For some, it also inspires them to consider a career in farming.
To actively support farmer engagement, LEAF’s 2024 Open Farm Sunday campaign launches with an on-farm event on March 20 at Bragborough Hall in Northamptonshire. The event is free, and includes workshops and presentations from education, PR specialists, the OFS team and experienced host farmers.
There are two free places available per farm, and registration for the can be found here.
Networking is heavily encouraged, with various chances to upskill, meet hosts, share ideas for on-farm activities and trade marketing tips.
The team behind the event are also holding a series of Zoom meetings from 27 March to 22 May to provide support for farmers wanting to put on events and support the initiative. Registration can be found here.
“This is an open invitation to farmers to get involved. By working together, we can really showcase every aspect of British farming,” concludes Mrs Shackleton.
