Windy Rafters Barn will have a blacksmith demonstration during Alberta Open Farm Days.
The sixth generation of a family farm will open its doors to the public Saturday, Aug. 17.
Windy Rafters Barn, operated at present by Monty Orr and his wife Ronalee Bennett Orr, will take part in the 12th Alberta Open Farm Days from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Windy Rafters Barn near Orton is one of more than 100 participating farms and businesses in the annual celebration of Alberta agriculture.
“Our tours will leave you with a feel for the lifestyle of the early settlers and the challenges that they faced,” the Orrs promise.
Alberta Open Farms Days is a collaborative project presented by the government of Alberta, the Alberta Association of Agricultural Societies, Travel Alberta, and participating farms and ranches.
Alberta Open Farm Days is intended to connect people to the province’s agricultural producers.
The historic Windy Rafters Barn site is used for hands-on educational experiences of life around the years of 1900s, as well as a rustic or western venue for such things as weddings and reunions.
Free activities and tours get under way at 10 a.m. Saturday Aug. 17.
Activities planned by the Orr family will include:
- Historic walking tour of the original 1905 Orton one-room school, the workhorse barn and the replica homestead cabin.
- Blacksmith demonstrations.
- Hands-on milking experience with a fake cow.
- Target shoot with a rifle that fires elastics.
- Farm zoo.
- Stick calf-roping.
- Horseshoes.
- History-related hay wagon ride.
- Hands-on rope making activity.
- Pony rides (by donation).
- Possible harvesting combine ride dependent on the weather and crop.
Lunch will be available for $12 at the concession.
Windy Rafters Barn is 10 kilometres east of Fort Macleod at 93033 Range Road 250.
Other southwestern Alberta operations participating in Open Farm Days include Broxburn Vegetables and Cafe; Canadian Co-operative Wool Growers Ltd.; Coaldale and District Agricultural Society Tour; Crystal Springs Cheese and Hybrid Dairy at Coalhurst; Farming Smarter Association in Lethbridge County; K3 Seeds in Lethbridge County; Little Gem Winery at Nobleford; the Canadian Grain Elevator Discovery Centre at Nanton; Prairie Hill Farms at Picture Butte; The Fermentory in Lethbridge; The Lilac Row; The Venue of New Hope at Coalhurst; and Theoretically Brewing Co. in Lethbridge.
Visit albertaopenfarmdays.ca for information.
