For those not quite acquainted with what goes on behind the scenes of a busy farm, then perhaps next weekend, June 13 and 14 will be a chance to put that right.
Because the Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend offers a chance to visit up to 21 farms across Northern Ireland and three of them are in Fermanagh this year.
One of the new farms in the county to open their gates to the public this year is the Egerton Farm, which is run by Beef Farmer of the Year, John Egerton, at Lisnavoe, off the main Donagh to Rosslea road, where he and his family is offering more than the usual visits to see the beef cattle and sheep grazing in the fields.
Apart from the self-guided tour with stop-offs at various points, John is raising much needed funds for the Pretty ‘n’ Pink breast cancer charity by holding a barbecue. But he is also organising a Sunday evening service on the farm with the theme, “Worship in Wellies.” The service beginning at 5.30pm will feature Kilskeery Silver Band leading the music.
John explained how breast cancer charities were very much dear to his heart. His mother has suffered from breast cancer and many people in the county know someone who has suffered from it.
“This is more of a family day out and more of a stroll around the farm than doing the technical things,” he says.
John is highly regarded in beef farming and hosting farmers’ groups is nothing new to him. He writes a regular column in the Irish Farmers’ Journal about his views on farming.
John’s farm is open on both Saturday and Sunday of next weekend between 2pm and 6pm and he is anxious to let people know about the background to how their food arrives on their plates.
Two other farms are opening to the public for Open Farm Weekend including the popular Tickety Moo Farm near Killadeas where the famous ice cream is made. Run by the Grey family, it is back supporting the initiative again. Tickety-Moo Farm at Killadeas, opens on both Saturday and Sunday, June 13 and 14, between 11am and 6pm where visitors can see robotic milking of the cows and sample the ice cream made on the site.
Another new farm to the Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend is Cavanagh Free Range Egg Farm run by Eileen and John Hall near Newtownbutler.
The couple run a specialist egg production farm with a flock of 32,000 hens. The farm has an on-site packing house and grading facility and will be open to the public on Saturday only between 10am and 4pm for what they described as “plenty of eggs-cellent fun.” They will be hosting farm tours of the free range hens, the laying houses and packing operations work. They will be organising a fun interactive quiz for the children, cooking egg recipes as well as serving tea, coffee and refreshments and organising egg and spoon races and other games for visitors.
(Source – Impartial Reporter – 05/06/2015)