Rocky View County’s (RVC) annual Ag Tour is fast approaching, and supervisor of Agricultural Services Jeff Fleischer anticipates another successful event July 19. “It’s been going on for over 30 years,” Fleisher said. “We take four or five local producers and try to showcase them, highlight a bit of the county and educate people on agriculture and the different agriculture that’s happening within the county.” According to Fleischer, the annual tour focuses on a different area of the county each year. This summer, the Ag Tour will visit local producers in Jumping Pound and Bragg Creek. “The county is pretty diverse,” he said. “A lot of different things happen in different areas.” The tour will leave from the Balzac Hall at 8:00 a.m. This year’s itinerary includes stops at two traditional cattle ranches in Jumping Pound, including one that dabbles in bee farming. The tour will stop in Bragg Creek for lunch and a showcase of local 4H kids. Participants will also see a demonstration by a Bragg Creek microgreens vertical farming operation – a nontraditional farm growing seedlings to use as garnishes for salads. The tour will conclude with a stop at a sheep farm followed by a roast beef dinner, as well as a small farmers market highlighting other agricultural businesses around RVC. The County will also award this year’s Master Farm Family during the tour’s lunch break. Fleischer said the award is handed out every year to a farming family nominated by neighbours. “Some of the criteria is volunteering in the community, community support, good farming practices,” he said. “At the tour, that’s when we announce our winner for that award, so it’s kind of a big day for them and special for the family.” Fleischer said the tour is a great way for RVC residents to explore the county and learn more about where they live. “You get to see what the county has to offer,” he said. “We’ll mention things on the bus, different interesting facts or history. It’s a great way to see the county and some of the agriculture that’s happening with in it.” Fleischer said the tour is also an important way to highlight one of the pillars of RVC. “Often we hear that farming is lost in RVC, that it’s purely just development,” he said. “Agriculture’s not lost. We have 1,600 farm operators within RVC according to the last census data, so we still do contribute a lot for agriculture in the province and the country.” While the event is designed for RVC residents, Fleischer said urban residents of nearby communities are welcome and it’s a great way learn about agriculture. Registration for the tour costs $35, which includes transportation, lunch and dinner. Anyone interested in the tour can register at rockyview.ca/agtour or call 403-230-1401 before the July 13 deadline. Space is limited to 120 participants, and Fleischer said as of June 26, around 30 to 40 spots were still open. “We can sell out and we have sold out in the past,” he said.
