Two local farms will be throwing opening their gates to visitors this coming weekend to share what happens behind the scenes on a real working farm, as they join a list of 18 farms participating in the Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend.

The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) at Enniskillen Campus will be open on Friday 17 June for pre-registered school children and Saturday 18 June (11am-4pm) for the public, while Mullygarry Farm and farm shop, Letterbreen will be open on Friday 17 June for pre-registered school children, Saturday 18 June (11am-5pm) and Sunday 19 June (11am-5pm) for the public.

This is the first time Mullygarry Farm, whose Île-de-France ram named Donny won ‘Champion of the Breed’ at this year’s Balmoral Show is participating in Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend, and the first time since 2019 that CAFRE’s Enniskillen Campus will have the public on farm during an Open Farm Weekend.

Gerard Nicholl from the CAFRE Enniskillen Campus said; “We are delighted participate in the Bank of Ireland Open Farm event once again and we look forward to welcoming visitors to gain an insight into the various aspects of the equine farm. On Saturday 18 June you can see various aspects of the equitation, racing and equine breeding enterprises and experience our farming activates while enjoying a walk around the estate which is situated along the shore of Drumgay Lough.”

The Open Farm Weekend initiative is led by the Ulster Farmers’ Union, with the support of Bank of Ireland, Asda, NFU Mutual, Livestock & Meat Commission NI, Moy Park, Fibrus, Irish Farmers Journal and this is the first-time visitors have been able to come on farm since 2019.

Recently elected President of the Ulster Farmers’ Union David Brown, who is a suckler beef and sheep farmer from Florencecourt said; “We are delighted to be in a position to host Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend back on farms this year. The last two years have been a challenge for all our farm families and being able to welcome the public and share their passion and enthusiasm will be great to see. Our aim is to showcase the outstanding contribution our farms and farm families make in producing the quality food we so often take for granted. Throughout this year’s event we will focus on women in agriculture, environmental issues and the farm to fork story and I encourage everyone to visit our farms, speak to our farm families and really celebrate the wonderful produce available right here in Northern Ireland.”

The last two years saw Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend take on a virtual format, and although the in-person interaction with farm families was missed, the event did reach a new audience from across Northern Ireland and beyond. With this in mind, selected farms will be streamed through Open Farm Weekend’s social media channels throughout the Friday and Saturday.

Checking dates and opening times is essential to avoid disappointment and can be viewed at www.openfarmweekend.com