Country Roads RV Park will be one of over 100 farms taking part in Alberta Open Farm Days on August 14 and 15 (Photo: Alberta Open Farm Days)

By Shaun Penner

Corn Maze, sunflower festival included

Grande Prairie farm hosting festivities as part of Alberta Open Farm Days

Aug 9, 2021 | 2:37 PM

A Grande Prairie farm will be one of over 100 farms taking part in Alberta Open Farm Days, which takes place this Saturday and Sunday.

Country Roads RV Park says they will have a plethora of family friendly activities going on this weekend to mark the celebration of Alberta’s farming community, says Owner Jason Halwa.

“It will be our official opening for the (Grande Prairie) Corn Maze, so that should be open,” said Halwa. “And new this year… is a sunflower festival. The sunflowers are a little short, but they are blooming like mad. It’s getting to be an ocean of yellow out there, which is pretty cool.”

Halwa adds that while they are the only Peace Region farm listed among those taking part this year, Country Roads will certainly not be alone in representing the region’s farming community.

“We’re a little bit different… because not only are we a farm, and we are hosting, but we are actually hosting some other farms that people may not be able to get to,” said Halwa.

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“We’re going to have a big market, so we have lots of vegetables, meats, honeys and all types of stuff like that.”

On top of all those activities, Halwa says they will have tours of Country Road’s new Joosed Moose Winery, with tastings from their selection of saskatoon berry wines. They will also be offering gem mining and a honey bee observation hive.

Open Farm Days is an annual two-day, province-wide initiative put on by the Alberta Association of Agricultural Societies, in partnership with the Alberta government, that gives Albertans an opportunity to experience the farming community and understand where their food comes from.

Halwa says the annual initiative is a great way for residents to also build a connection with their regional producers.

“I think a lot of people are kind of getting back to that farm to fork thing,” Halwa said, adding he’s seen a growing desire from consumers to buy local foods during the pandemic.

“(People) are looking more local at the food they’re getting, where it’s coming from, and how it is being prepared.”

Country Roads RV will be holding festivities from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on August 14 and 15. The full list of farms taking part across Alberta can be found here.