The second-ever Saskatchewan Open Farm Days event was held on August 9-10, 2025 and featured 35 farms and agriculture-related venues across the province. Experiences included grain farming, historical sites, dairy and beef cattle, equine adventures, Hutterite colonies, hops farm, breweries, u-picks, orchards, mixed farms, chickens, and more. We estimate that almost 4,000 people took part in Open Farm Days this year.
In total, 117 farmers and volunteers worked to host Open Farm Days this year. Many farms also included vendor partners at their events, which added to the experience for visitors and supported local businesses and artisans. There were an additional 70 vendor partners.
Over 100 visitors attended the Open Farm Day event at Creekridge Farms, which took place on August 10 and enjoyed sunnier skies than many other events on the Saturday. “I think overall everyone had a great experience,” said Mary Frankl, part of the team at Creekridge. “We had lots of new participants this year, which was nice to see. We’re already looking forward to next year!”
Visitors were encouraged to use the online map and suggested itineraries to help plan their farm visits. We also offered a free online Open Farm Days Pass for download that provided information at visitors’ fingertips and offered a chance to win prizes.
In addition to promoting the different individual farm experiences, FFC SK also arranged for three bus tours during Open Farm Days.
- Moose Jaw bus tour included stops at Western Development Museum, Prairie Bee Meadery, Pine Ranch, Hodgeville Colony
- Regina bus tour included stops at Over the Hill Orchards, Seven Meadows Farm, Regina Farmers Market, pizza-making class at Western Pizza
- Saskatoon bus tour included stops at chicken farming demo at Western Development Museum, Sixteen Grains Farm, Crossmount Cider, Nienhuis Family dairy farm, Seager Wheeler Farm
These bus tours are an excellent way to showcase farms to people without access to transportation or uncomfortable navigating unfamiliar rural roads. It also offers tour guides to help field questions from curious visitors and establish an ongoing connection to FFC SK for future questions.
Participants on the Moose Jaw bus tour got to meet Cyle and Erika Stewart, Saskatchewan’s 2024 Outstanding Young Farmers and tour their cow/calf and yearling operation. In fact, tour participants got an extra adventure when the bus broke down and Cyle came out to help get it running again! Guests who attended the tour enjoyed seeing a working ranch in action, and remarked on how impressed they were with the Stewarts’ honest, down‑to‑earth explanations about beef production and environmental stewardship on their farm.
89% of visitors to the farms agreed/strongly agreed that Saskatchewan Open Farm Days improved their understanding and perception of agriculture. The event was especially appreciated by new Canadians, with one visitor sharing, “As a newcomer to Canada, I enjoyed everything about the experience. The Saskatchewan way of farming has made me love my new home even more.” Another enthused, “I wish [Open Farm Days] was twice a year instead of only once!”
FFC SK is very pleased to note that the inaugural Saskatchewan Open Farm Days event has been selected as a finalist for ‘Rookie of the Year’ in the Hospitality Saskatchewan Tourism Awards of Excellence.
Open Farm Days was an incredible opportunity for Saskatchewan consumers to see what modern agriculture looks like and to meet and ask questions of real farmers and ranchers.
Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan would especially like to thank all the farmers and vendors who put so much work into opening their gates to welcome visitors. We also salute all our partners, without whom this event would not be possible: Affinity Credit Union, Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, Saskatchewan Cattle Association, Chicken Farmers of Saskatchewan, Bunge, SaskOilseeds, SaskWheat, Grain Millers Canada, SaskTel, SaskEnergy, Three Farmers Foods and the Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative.
Find out more at skopenfarmdays.ca.