Explore Regina: the city through a tourism lens

A celebration at Seager Wheeler's Maple Grove Farm, a National Historic Site.

source: Farm and Food Report

Agritourism as a means to diversify income sources on the farm has been getting increased attention lately because of the number of options that can be considered, as well as the number of success stories right here in Saskatchewan.

For example, had Seager Wheeler (1868-1961) been living today, he'd probably marvel at what his Maple Grove Farm has become: a National Historic Site -- a place that celebrates the achievements of the most famous farmer in the history of the Canadian Prairies; a place to learn, play and eat. It is also one of Saskatchewan's most compelling agritourism destinations, just on the edge of Rosthern.

For Ag Manager Brian Weightman, working here is the realization of a long time dream.

"I have a crop production background. I like the interaction with guests, the ability to share something that maybe they didn't understand about growing crops -- something as simple as the characteristics of a variety of fruit, the difference between a grafted tree and a cultured tree. There is an enrichment aspect for me, too, because sometimes you'll get a person from Europe with a different experience of agriculture who contributes to your knowledge. Every day is a new challenge, and every day I learn a new thing."

Visitors to the farm discover all about field experimentation with cereals and horticulture in a prairie environment, shelterbelts, soil enhancement practices and soil conservation strategies. They find out how Seager Wheeler developed new selection processes and wheat varieties, earning him international recognition, with virtually no knowledge and no tools -- just a strong aspiration for success. Guests are actually invited to take part in some of the work performed on site.

"We have school groups that literally plant seeds and seedlings in our fields," Weightman says. "They learn about how soils evolved from the glacial era until today. In some cases, they come back for the harvest and take the vegetables to school. With our fruit orchards, they can trim the trees and pick the fruit. Adults pick much of our fruit and we share it with them. Time spent earns fruit."

Weightman looks after saskatoon berry, strawberry, raspberry, sour cherry, apple, honeysuckle and seabuckthorn production, among other responsibilities.

"We make pies and homemade ice cream, so some of that fruit is applied as flavouring. We make muffins, jams, jellies -- sometimes sundae toppings and locally made fruit dishes, including fruit-filled perogies. We will produce pretty much any application that would come from a few local cultural groups such as Ukrainians, Mennonites and French Canadians."

The farm welcomes visitors from around the world, and there are always experiences available that match their expectations, according to Weightman. "They come away with a feeling of what a wonderful lifestyle it is, and the harmony with nature and the existence itself. We see nature sometimes in a bad sense when there is a flood or a bad storm, but when you work in the soil and you see the life that is in the soil as it grows the plant, you develop a sense of warming from the sun and the birds. So I think they come away with a sense of how rich earth is and how good it is."

If Brian Weightman is obviously passionate about his work, the same can be said of an increasing number of tourism product consumers who include more hands-on, behind the scenes type of experiences as part of their holiday. Studies have shown that this kind of experiential travel is on the rise. No longer do travellers look to simply be shown attractions. They long for encounters with an increasing level of participation that will generate lasting memories.

To cater to this need, new marketing initiatives have been set into motion. Angela Pearen Burnside is the coordinator of Travel Country Roads Canada, a group of agritourism operators on the leading edge of the next generation of agricultural tourism products.

"One of the emerging types of experiences that sells at the moment focuses on showcasing local gastronomic traditions. For instance, we have seen a rural bed and breakfast bring in a chef, where the actual product would involve inviting guests to help through the food preparation process, cook the dish and eat it, too. The agritourism product in this case becomes the culinary experience that is staged in a rural setting and sold as a distinctive package."

The variety of agritourism experiences is only limited by imagination. Guest ranches have being enjoying certain popularity in recent years for a number of reasons.

There is location -- they are generally in a remote setting, which impacts on their exotic quality as a destination. Ranches also appeal as places where guests can engage in horseback riding activities with people who live off the land, have an intimate knowledge of horses and cattle, and possess a unique appreciation for the Great Plains.

Ted Hornung is Manager of International Marketing at Tourism Saskatchewan.

"What we are seeing is a genuine interest among international guests in experiencing what it is like to be a rancher, at a deeper level," Hornung says. "They want to participate in cattle drives, check the cows and calves in the pastures. They wish to integrate a personal enrichment quality with their holiday, which at some level has the potential to transform their lives. In order to achieve that, they almost have to immerse themselves into somebody else's world. And the ranching lifestyle is perceived as being wholesome."

Some people choose to go on a journey to Tibet to seek inner growth and wisdom. Spending some time with a cowboy on the range can go a long way to provide some of that, too.

For more information, contact:
Ted Hornung
Tourism Saskatchewan
(306) 787-3016