Noreen Nickolas
MNJ Correspondent
NC State Extension will be observing and promoting “Small Farms Week” by organizing self-guided farm tours in Mitchell County in March.
Farms that are participating in the self-guided tours will be open on Friday, March 28, and Saturday, March 29.
“A lot of people don’t realize what role agriculture plays in Mitchell County,” said Brandon Pitman, Mitchell County’s new extension director. “We are working to identify those (farmers) that will be willing to have their farm open for people to stop by. We want to help promote what they’re doing.”
The extension office is joining forces with North Carolina A&T State University’s mission to help educate consumers on the importance of knowing where their food comes from and to focus on the crucial role small farms play in providing that food.
The theme of this year’s 39th Annual North Carolina’s Small Farms Week, set for March 23-29, is “Next Gen Agriculture.” It will look at new technologies and new farming practices designed for environmental sustainability and resilience in the face of climate change. And will address the many technologies and best practices that are changing agricultural production on farms of all sizes.
“I think it’s important to learn about how some production methods have changed,” said Pitman, “You think you know what has been done historically.”
This is an opportunity to learn “what technology farmers are using and what are some of the challenges that farmers face,” Pitman continued.
Most events will be held at the NC A&T University farm and the Farm Pavilion. But this year Mitchell County will also be offering self-guided farm tours.
Pitman, who lives in Mitchell County with his wife Stephanie and son Gabe, has only been in his position since January. He said he has lined up about 10 farmers who are willing to open their farms to visitors.
Farmers who participate in the farm tours will allow residents and visitors to see firsthand what county farmers have to offer, and Pitman said this may help them acquire new customers.
The upside for farmers is that “we can bring awareness and help increase their sales and get that traffic flow during the season,” Pitman said.
This is the first year Mitchell County is organizing the tours, and some farmers are wary about what they will be required to do and have questioned the timing.
“All we’re asking is for them to be available to answer visitor’s questions or set up information posters that explain the history of and what the farm produces,” Pitman emphasized. “If the farmer is too busy to meet with visitors, there are extension master gardeners who have offered to be present to educate the public on the farm’s operation.”
Scheduling a tour can be challenging for some farmers.
Pitman said he understands that “The vast majority of our producers . . . work. And this (farming) is something they’re doing on the side. Having time to be able to commit a Saturday is a challenge, especially as we start getting into March. They need to be in their fields or needing to work their livestock if the weather’s decent.”
Since March is when the Small Farms Week is being held this is an opportune time to hold the tours, he added.
“If you wait until your crops are coming in to try to promote it, people don’t have the opportunity to . . . prepare to come and visit. But if we can get that (information) out there now and get people thinking about visiting. This will get it on people’s radar,” Pitman reasoned.
Farm visitors will learn that Mitchell County is home to a variety of small farms that produce a range of products. Some farmers raise beef cattle, hay, and corn, some cultivate pick-your-own berries and apple orchards, while others grow vegetable gardens and Christmas trees.
For Erin Silver, a 4-H agent for North Carolina State University, educating residents about agriculture in Mitchell County is a priority. Her father-in-law, Sam Silver, and husband, Jake Silver own Sinkhole Creek Farm a centuries-old family farm in Bakersville, that raises cattle, corn, and hay, and will be part of the farm tour.
“I really want people to understand that agriculture is not dead. That is why I push so hard in 4-H to introduce kids to livestock and agricultural ideas because I think it is a very large misconception in Mitchell County that agriculture is dead. But it’s very much alive,” Erin said.
In addition to learning about Sinkhole’s history and everyday operations, visitors will observe the process the farm uses to make feed for their cattle.
“Sam likes to talk about all his equipment,” Erin said. “He has a mixer he likes to show people. It’s a big tub that gets pulled on the back of the tractor. They mix the hay and silage in it to make feed out of it. There is a conveyor belt that runs along the sides of the feed troughs, and it dumps the feed in there.”
Despite some of the challenges the farms face holding tours this time of year, Erin believes it is worth it.
“I think it is going to be a great thing for them (visitors) to see all the agriculture in Mitchell County, she said. “I’m excited.”
To list your farm on the tour call Brandon Pitman at (828) 688-4811. For more information on farms participating and schedules follow them on Facebook at Mitchell County Cooperative Extension.