***Original published in Crossroads This Week, Oct 5, 2018***
Hodgins Family Opens up Farm Gates
Recently on September 16, over 40 Manitoba farms participated in the annual Open Farm Day throwing open their farm gates for the public to come and visit. One of the family farms welcoming guests was that of Cameron and Lisa Hodgins of Hodgins Farm just southwest of Kenton.
Lisa was really unsure of what to expect for numbers as this was their first time participating in Open Farm day. They had some of the fencing and shelters that they use on display in the yard, as well as bee hives, and some cover crop plants with written information so people could self-guide themselves. Cameron took people on guided tours out to see some of the animals, plants, etc. and provided more of an explanation.
Back in the garage, people were able to enjoy hot beef and pork on a bun, coffee and lemonade, as well as learn more about the farm and products. Guests then had an opportunity to purchase farm produced products before they left. The Hodgins direct market their foods on a year round basis.
‘We had people register and we had about 50 adults and 20 kids come and join us at some point that afternoon. We thought the afternoon went great! The weather was rather cold and rainy to start but the rain stopped and it sure didn’t keep people from travelling out and enjoying themselves. Definitely something we would look at doing again next year.’
‘We were just willing to open our farm up and give people a chance to come out and see how we raise our animals, and hear a bit of why we do things the way we do. We wanted to pass on to visitors that we are farming as a family and working with Mother Nature (in the ecosystem) to produce good quality, healthy food.’
The farm’s centerpiece enterprise is their grass fed beef cattle operation. Lisa and Cameron manage about 200 cow/calf pairs with 140 being owned by them and Cameron’s parents Ed and Debra, and 60 custom grazed cows in the summer. They also manage 120 yearling heifers and steers.
There is also a small menagerie of other animals which include 50 pastured pigs, a flock of 15 sheep, 600 pastured chickens and 50 pastured turkeys this year. Also for good measure, they have two dozen bee hives and a small flock of 15 laying hens.
The family manages 1850 acres, with a mix of leased and owned land consisting of mainly perennial grass and hay.
The Hodgins Farm is not currently certified organic, however they continue to follow organic practices. Managing the farm holistically has helped them develop their practices to utilize the relationships between soil, livestock, people, and water. Lisa says that their visitors seemed genuinely interested in learning more about where and how their food is being produced and they enjoy making those connections with their customers.
Lisa had this advice for those wanting to follow our example, ‘Start on a small scale and don’t be afraid to try something new.’
For information on next year’s Manitoba Open Farm Day and the list of farms in your area or if you would like to register your farm for visitation, go to their website at http://www.openfarmday.ca/
Blair is a personification of a ‘Jack of All Trades and Master of None’. He has held several careers and has all the T-shirts. Time to add the title Blogger to the list.