Moms on the Farm Tour Offers Glimpse Into Food Production Process

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Dairy farmer John Robert Hart explains the process of milk production to the Moms on the Farm tourists.

On April 21, the fourth annual Moms on the Farm Tour will provide attendees with a better understanding of how farmers provide consumers with the food they feed their families as they tour local farms in the Northwest Arkansas area.

"We want people to feel more informed about the food they feed their families," said Janeal Yancey, one of the organizers of the event. "We want to introduce consumers to farmers."

This year's tour will depart from the Benton County Extension Office in Bentonville at 8:30 a.m. The tour will visit Triple A Farms, a beef farm and a poultry farm. After visiting the farms, attendees will return to the Benton County Extension office for lunch and cooking demonstrations by the Arkansas Cattlewomen.

The first Moms on the Farm Tour was organized in 2012 by faculty and staff of the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture and the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences with the intention of providing the moms who attended the tour with deeper insight into the agricultural processes that bring food to them and their families. The tour has evolved over time though, according to Yancey, who is a Division of Agriculture Department of Animal Science staff member.

"We call ourselves 'Moms on the Farm,' but anyone who wants to learn more about how their food is produced is welcome to join us," said Yancey.

Participants from past tours have gained a better understanding of production agriculture and of the farmers behind the production. One such past participant is Kate Shoulders, a faculty member of the UA Department of Agricultural Education, Communications and Technology.

"I already supported farmers in a general way, but to hear that they didn't all come into farming easily or via their own families was really interesting," said Shoulders. "It helped me feel more connected to Arkansas farmers since I was new to the area."

Individuals who want more information or who want to attend the Moms on the Farm Tour should contact Janeal Yancey at jws09@uark.edu or at 870-688-4247. The tour is free, but space is limited.