Farmers set for annual Open Farm Weekend

Local farms are getting ready to open their gates to the public for the 2016 Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend.
By The Newsroom
Published 9th May 2016, 13:13 BST
Updated 9th May 2016, 17:07 BST
Farmers who are hosting visitors to the farms for this year's Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend taking part in a training day for the event, at Greenmount Agricultural College. Pic Cliff DonaldsonFarmers who are hosting visitors to the farms for this year's Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend taking part in a training day for the event, at Greenmount Agricultural College. Pic Cliff Donaldson
Farmers who are hosting visitors to the farms for this year's Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend taking part in a training day for the event, at Greenmount Agricultural College. Pic Cliff Donaldson

Five County Armagh farms will welcome visitors in for the event’s fifth anniversary, which coincides with the Northern Ireland Year of Food and Drink 2016.

Simon Best of Acton House Farm, Poyntzpass and the Troughton family of Armagh Apple Farm will once again play hosts, as well as Harry McGaffin of Blackberry Hill Farm outside Gilford and Kenny Gracey of Forthill Farm, Tandragee. This year also sees a new addition to the mix with the McKeever family’s Long Meadow Farm joining in the fun.

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The weekend - an initiative led by the Ulster Farmers’ Union and principally supported by the Bank of Ireland - has attracted almost 60,000 people since 2012. To help celebrate the NI Year of Food and Drink, the weekend will feature tastings and cooking demonstrations to deliver the ‘farm to fork’ message.

This year’s event will run on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 June. Schools are invited to visit farms by arrangement on Friday 17 June. Visit www.openfarmweekend.com

Related topics:Northern Ireland