Open Farm Day saw community engagement, with 48 volunteers assisting and several local farms participating. Klein View Farm hosted 171 visitors, and Blazing Acres attracted 142 attendees, who showed a particular interest in hay rides despite the rain. Second Eden Farm received 12 orders for Thanksgiving turkeys from 108 visitors. Arnold’s tobacco farm drew 99 visitors, and The Scoop welcomed 68 visitors. Promotional efforts expanded the event’s reach, attracting groups from neighboring Granville.

Members discussed potential improvements for next year, including conducting interviews with farmers to gather feedback and exploring the idea of assigning each member to engage with a specific farm. There was also consideration of adjusting the event’s start time to avoid conflicts with church services, although attendance was steady from the beginning. Establishing a reliable volunteer roster ahead of time and improving outreach efforts were also emphasized, with suggestions to place sign-up sheets in local businesses like Big Y.

The conversation also touched on the possibility of expanding participation to farms outside Southwick. While some members advocated for prioritizing local farms, others saw potential benefits in including nearby farms to enhance the event’s objectives.

In addition to reflecting on the success of Open Farm Day, the meeting also addressed the coordination of future farm days with neighboring towns like Suffield and Granby. Aligning Southwick’s farm day with those of nearby towns to create a regional event was proposed, but there was skepticism about changing Suffield’s long-standing date. The importance of including educational components in farm days was emphasized, with suggestions to ensure future events incorporate interactive elements and historical displays.

The meeting also covered logistical improvements made since previous years, such as better parking arrangements. Social media and promotional strategies were evaluated, with a focus on enhancing the reach and engagement of the Commission’s Facebook page. There was a brief discussion about honey production and the impact of weather on local beekeepers, highlighting environmental challenges faced by farmers.

A significant proposal was made regarding transportation for seniors. The idea of a donation program for the local food bank was also discussed, with enthusiasm about expanding this initiative while being cautious not to overstep.

Further conversations focused on the distribution and effectiveness of promotional materials for the event. The commission had run out of brochures, leading to suggestions for printing more flyers for next year’s event. The cost-effectiveness of printed materials was debated, with a proposal for business card-sized flyers with QR codes as a modern solution. The idea of seeking increased sponsorship and fundraising efforts to enhance advertising was also discussed, along with the importance of sending thank-you messages to volunteers and sponsors.

The re-establishment of the open space committee in town was another topic of discussion. The select board had discussed this initiative, and members reflected on the successful volunteer engagement of the Agricultural Commission during Farm Day.

The upcoming Farm Parade scheduled for October 19th was also a major focus. There was discussion about creating banners for the event, decorations for the float, and logistics related to candy distribution. Financial constraints were acknowledged, with suggestions to allocate funds for decorations or additional items needed for the parade.

The potential for future collaborations with local schools to promote agricultural education was discussed, with ideas about establishing programs involving the National Honor Society and reaching out to schools with Future Farmers of America (FFA) programs. The importance of providing internship opportunities for students and facilitating connections between local farms and potential student workers was emphasized.

Towards the end of the meeting, the discussion turned to the possibility of honoring Roger Cook. There was a general agreement on the importance of acknowledging contributions to agriculture and conservation, with a consensus to honor him briefly and respectfully.