Article – A September Saturday at the Bruce D. Campbell Farm and Food Discovery Centre brought together hundreds of Manitobans eager to reconnect with the origins of their food. The annual Fall Harvest Festival, now in its seventh year, transformed the research station into a bustling hub of agricultural education and family entertainment.
“People are increasingly disconnected from where their food comes from,” explained Samantha Kowalchuk, the Centre’s director. “This event helps bridge that gap, especially for urban families who may never have set foot on a working farm.”
Located just 15 minutes south of Winnipeg’s Perimeter Highway, the Centre sits on the University of Manitoba’s Glenlea Research Station. Despite threatening skies, attendance surpassed last year’s numbers with over 600 visitors participating in activities ranging from grain grinding demonstrations to livestock feeding sessions.
The event comes at a critical moment for Manitoba’s agricultural sector. According to Statistics Canada’s latest agricultural census, the province has lost nearly 7% of its family farms over the past five years, continuing a decades-long trend of consolidation. Yet agriculture remains a cornerstone of Manitoba’s economy, contributing approximately $12 billion annually and employing over 35,000 people directly.
“Many kids think food just appears in grocery stores,” said Mark Friesen, a dairy producer from Steinbach who volunteered at the event’s milk production display. “Seeing their faces light up when they learn how much work goes into producing a single glass of milk – that makes days like this worthwhile.”
The Centre’s indoor exhibits were complemented by outdoor activities including hayrides, a corn maze, and petting zoo. A particular crowd-pleaser was the tractor display, featuring equipment spanning from 1950s models to modern GPS-guided behemoths.
Winnipeg resident Elena Carrera brought her three children after learning about the event through her youngest son’s school. “We buy food every day without thinking about the process behind it,” she said while watching her children feed hay to calves. “This gives them context for what they eat and hopefully some appreciation for the farmers who produce it.”
The Centre’s educational mission extends beyond single-day events. Established in 2011 through a $5 million donation from Manitoba pork producer Bruce Campbell, the facility hosts over 12,000 visitors annually, including more than 8,000 schoolchildren on curriculum-based field trips.
“Agricultural literacy is about understanding the complexity of our food systems,” explained Dr. Martin Nyachoti, head of the University of Manitoba’s Department of Animal Science. “Events like this help the public understand everything from sustainable farming practices to food security challenges.”
The festival also featured displays highlighting emerging agricultural technologies. University researchers demonstrated drone applications for crop monitoring and discussed developments in plant genetics that could help Manitoba farmers adapt to changing climate conditions.
For many attendees, the direct connection with producers proved most valuable. Local farmers staffed information booths explaining everything from beekeeping to regenerative agriculture practices, creating conversations that went beyond the typical consumer-product relationship.
“There’s something powerful about talking directly with the people who grow your food,” said Winnie Chen, who drove from Selkirk with her family. “My teenagers actually put down their phones and asked questions about careers in agriculture. That alone made the trip worthwhile.”
The Fall Harvest Festival represents part of a broader provincial effort to strengthen connections between urban consumers and rural producers. Manitoba Agriculture has increasingly focused on public education initiatives as the divide between city and farm lifestyles widens.
“Events like this help counter misconceptions about modern farming,” said Robert Guilford, a provincial agricultural extension specialist who attended the festival. “Many consumers have outdated or romanticized notions about agriculture. This gives them a more accurate picture of today’s farming practices.”
The festival also served as a reminder of agriculture’s environmental challenges. Displays about water conservation and soil health highlighted the balancing act farmers face between productivity and sustainability.
“We want people to understand that farmers are the original environmentalists,” explained Kowalchuk. “Their livelihoods depend on healthy ecosystems. But they also face incredible pressure to produce more food for a growing population on the same amount of land.”
As afternoon raindrops finally began to fall, families made their way back to minivans and SUVs, many carrying crafts, produce purchases, and information pamphlets. Eight-year-old Theo Harrison clutched a jar of honey he helped extract at the beekeeping station.
“I thought honey just came from the store,” he explained earnestly. “But now I know it comes from bees, and bees need flowers, and farmers help grow the flowers. It’s all connected.”
That simple realization – the interconnectedness of our food systems – seemed to be exactly what organizers hoped visitors would take home alongside their produce purchases and family memories.
“If people leave with a greater appreciation for agriculture’s complexity and importance,” said Kowalchuk as the event wound down, “then we’ve done our job, rain or shine.”
