Airdrie Agricultural Society to host art of the harvest

Rocky View residents interested in learning about the way farmers harvested in years gone by are encouraged to attend Art of the Harvest, Sept. 29 at the Airdrie Ag Park.

The event, which is sponsored by the Airdrie and District Agricultural Society and takes place in conjunction with Airdrie’s ARTember festivities and Alberta Culture Days, will include an old time harvest demonstration, horse teams, antique farm equipment and free beef on a bun for the first 300 visitors.

The Ag Society will use antique farm equipment and horse teams to harvest three acres of oats it seeded this spring throughout the course of the event, which runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“Art of the Harvest is intended to help people understand what an old time harvest was all about,” said Ag Society President Brenda Moon. “We want to share with people how that happened and how we were able to actually harvest back in the day.”

Close to 40 volunteers, including members of local 4-H clubs and local farmers, will be involved in the day’s proceedings and Moon hopes hundreds of residents will come out to support them.

“Food is pretty close to everyone’s hearts, so it is important to show support for our farmers and to understand what they go through in order to put food on our tables,” she said. “Our vision at the Ag Society is rural and urban communities growing healthy together. What better way is there of demonstrating that than showing how things happened then and how our farmers kept us healthy?”

Moon said the event will also offer insight into the trials and tribulations of modern crop producers.

“We had a lot of hail this year and that has a big impact on our farmers,” she said. “It’s about understanding what our farmers go through.”

The event will take place at the Airdrie Ag Park, located roughly three kilometres west of Airdrie at the intersection of Highway 567, otherwise known as Big Hill Springs Road, and Range Road 14.

For more information, visit www.airdrieagsociety.com