Many took advantage of checking out farms in our area during Open Farm Days last month.
The Town of Trochu, including the Trochu Arboretum, hosted a number of events to provide visitors to learn and experience farm life. According to Carol Anne Holmstrom, Facility Manager of the Trochu Arboretum, they had quite a number come in to visit. “I believe the count was 460 at the gate. Kneehill County put an electronic counter on at the gate.”
Holmstrom admits that the focus was not on just the Arboretum but for Farm Days in Trochu. “In town we had the flower show, which was an old fashioned flower, baking, and photography (show) at the hall. We had a bus that would take you from there to here (the Arboretum). The Museum was open and was part of the bus route. We also had a stop at Trochu Motors.”
Holmstrom admits that there were so many benefits of the Arboretum being involved with Open Farm Days. “We had so many people come for Farm Days and said they never knew this place existed. They said they were just enthralled by the beauty of the Arboretum itself. We had live music, all kinds of food, and the open market. People came for the market and some of them from 10 AM and stayed until 4.” They also had a number of animals as well as presentations on bees and permaculture.
With the success this year, Holmstrom anticipates participating next year with Open Farm Days. “We were only one day (Saturday). The Sunday, we had probably another hundred people come anyway but there was nothing but the Arboretum. They came and stayed at the Arboretum and enjoy the grounds. We had the highest gate we had had all summer.”
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