by Claude-Jean Harel
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, Saskatchewan.
For Ag Manager Brian Weightman, farming has always been a dream occupation.
“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. Everyday 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 of 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. They learn about how soils evolved from the glacial era until today. In some case 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 dirt and you see the life that is in the dirt 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.
Angela Pearen Burinside is the coordinator of the Country Roads - Prairie Agri Tourism Product Club, a group of agritourism operators on the leading edge of the next generation of agricultural tourism products.
“One of the emerging type 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, 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. They want to participate in cattle drives, check the cows and calves in the pastures. They wish to integrate a personal enrichment quality to 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. The journey becomes the experience.
At the magnificent Historic Reesor Ranch in the Cypress Hills, each guest room has its own theme. The William D. and Alice Room celebrates the lives of the first Reesor family in the Hills with artifacts and photographs lovingly displayed on the walls.
The Keith and Helen Room features the second generation; the Ranch Hand’s Room interprets the life of those less celebrated who contributed no less to the success of the ranch. Everything about the 1916 ranch house, yard and buildings oozes of the hardships and joys of life in a part of the world that one must inhabit to truly understand.
Authenticity radiates all around the ranch, thanks to its heritage. Yet authenticity can be articulated in innumerable ways.
Just east of Saskatoon, St. Denis’ Champêtre County espouses a theme that resonates with the Denis family and countless Saskatchewan residents: nostalgia for the Far West. Hence, the frontier town of Tumbleweed was erected out at the Denis farm. It comes with a Sheriff’s Office, where guests register; the Howling Coyote Saloon is used as the main facility for meals and special events; there is a General Store, a Town Hall, a Boarding House. Thérèse and Arthur Denis have created quite the place out here on the prairie.
“We have moved beyond the farm,” says Thérèse, “we have really become a destination. We had to market it right because we are located away from highways, so we chose to focus on group functions. We host family reunions, weddings, corporate events and meetings — we are constantly honing the experiences and services we offer to answer our customer’s needs. For instance, we have a complete photographic studio on-site, so guests can take home with them a little piece of our place here.”
The authenticity in this case emerges from the fact that Thérèse and her family still live right here in the yard, which is tended with the kind of attention to detail one finds normally in the most meticulously looked-after gardens. “We are welcoming these guests at our place a bit like you welcome a friend in your home. In a way, we become part of their celebration; they become part of our family.”
It should also be noted that Arthur Denis also happens to be Tumbleweed’s Sheriff. Guests are advised to be on their best behaviour for the duration of their stay.
Of course, when the natural beauty of the surroundings is as overwhelming as one encounters at Aylesbury’s Trails End Guest Ranch, very little theming is required. From Highway 11, the big sign catches the eye. A quick drive east over a couple of kilometres and you enter the picturesque Arm River Valley.
Meet Lyle Benz and his wife Chris. She’s originally from the eastern United States; he was born and raised around here. They share a passion for horses and cattle — it achieved new height about four years ago, when Lyle came to realize that his 1,000 acre ranch was attracting all kinds of visitors.
“We had a lot of city people who used to come down here. It is such a beautiful place in the summertime. They asked us if they could come down for the weekend, and being that I was here everyday, I didn’t recognize the significance of this until after a few occasions. I had to ask people what they saw here that I didn’t? The serenity of the valley is basically the first thing they came up with; the peacefulness; just the aura of the valley itself, the ruggedness of it.”
In 2001, they opened the guest ranch with three comfortable cabins made out of cleverly refurbished wooden grain bins. The humble original farmhouse is also available for rent. They have a hot tub; they built a kitchen/office building down by the creek as well as a stable and a sheltered riding arena. What experiences do they offer?
“The whole cowboy experience,” according to Lyle, “to go out and ride with us and work with us on every day activities; checking fences, checking cattle, helping us treat a sick one. People are invited to participate in our round ups and general herd management procedures. We also offer hourly trail rides. All the land down here in the valley is native grass.”
The ruins of a turn-of-the-century sod house are still visible on the hillside across Arm River. The stove sits in the middle of it. Apparently, the homesteader’s wife loved this place so much she had herself buried on a point on the hillside, overlooking the valley.
Interpreting the local landscape to visitors is what Chris and Lyle love most, next to sharing their love of horses. Chris Benz:
“We are set up for people who bring their own horses as well. We have a complete horse obstacle course. We have bridges; we have a teeter-totter that you ride your horse across. We teach guests how to swim with their horse. We have corrals; outdoor rings; we have a race track; we have full service RV sites if they want to come in and bring their campers with them.”
Lyle Benz has noticed a change in the profile of visitors in recent years.
“One of the drawback people in Saskatchewan have about vacationing with their horses is everybody grew up on a farm and in a lot of cases, the last thing they want to do is go on a farm and see a horse. The first generations away from the farm are the ones coming back now. They are really interested in Grandpa and Grandma’s roots. We have had a lot of guests from Alberta coming back. Mum and dad moved to Alberta in the 60s, 70s — they just want to see where Grandma and Grandpa homesteaded.”
The Centennial year looks like it will be a good one for agritourism in Saskatchewan.
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