Artwork by Red Deer area artist Wendy Johnsen. (Supplied)

By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

support local

Open Farm Days welcomes Albertans to 160 farms Aug. 16-17

Aug 11, 2025 | 3:09 PM

If you’ve never taken in the offerings of Alberta Open Farm Days, make plans to do so this weekend.

The 2025 edition, which makes it 13 years for the province-wide event, runs Aug. 16 and 17.

Farms all around Alberta are taking part and you can be part of the action — just check out the interactive map HERE to plan out your trip, and maybe even hit up more than one of the 160 participating producers.

As organizing committee member Tannis Baker explains, this year’s theme is ‘Water, The Lifeblood of Every Farm’ — in recognition of the United Nations declaring 2025 the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation.

“We need water for crops, for animals, you need them in processing, it’s really integral,” she says.

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“We don’t have the crops we have in Alberta with irrigation, we also have dams — we have a lot of ways to learn about our waterways which our participating farms have taken to heart, and they’re telling the stories of how water impacts them.”

One participant, a brewery, will take attendees on a grain to glass journey.

Baker says Open Farm Days is also a good chance to recognize what the impacts are of international tariffs on Canadian producers.

“We have over 40,000 farms in Alberta, so that ability for people to support local and keep your money in Alberta is really important. I think people are feeling that right now,” she says.

“Wherever you visit on Open Farm Days, consider bringing your cooler, buy your proteins, buy fruits and vegetables.”

One participating location is ReThink Red Deer’s Piper Creek project site.

According to the Government of Alberta, this province is Canada’s biggest producer of honey, beef and processed potatoes, not to mention the second-largest producer of wheat and canola.

More than 1.5 million arable acres are irrigated within Alberta’s 11 irrigation districts with an additional 300,000 acres irrigated through individual or private irrigators, the provincial government notes.

“Alberta’s rural and agri-tourism sectors play a vital role in the continued growth of our economy,” says Andrew Boitchenko, Minister of Tourism and Sport.

“Initiatives like Open Farm Days showcase Alberta’s rich agricultural heritage and invite visitors to discover the unique experiences, innovative farms and local business that lie outside the province’s top tourist destinations.”

Another notable aspect of 2025 Open Farm Days includes is the official artwork, done by Red Deer area artist Wendy Johnsen. Read about her work and inspiration here.