One of the most rewarding events on the WCAS calendar is our Farm Open Days which take place every two years. Schools across Cumbria and North Lancashire are invited to attend, whilst over 100 volunteers and demonstrators give their time to help make the Farm Open Day a truly memorable day of discovery for the children. With its beginnings in 2007, the Farm Open Day initiative aims to help youngsters explore the link between farming and the food that reaches their plate, whilst learning about the importance of agriculture and sustainable farming and food production.
Various stations are set up around the farm, with a mix of more traditional farming methods that are widely used; sheep shearing, sheep dog handling, poultry keeping skills as well as promoting the use of technology in farming by incorporating a veterinary lambing simulator, along with an automated sheep run and weigh cell. The children discover how dairy cows are milked, how the milk is processed and bottled, and have a go at milking ‘Clover’ our wooden dairy cow. Amongst all this of course, there’s a chance to get up close with the animals, holding day old chicks, feeding calves and meeting sheep and lambs.
WCAS understands that the future of farming lies with future generations, and with this in mind, the aim of the Farm Open Days is to inspire and educate these future generations to the agricultural landscape around them.