Wednesday, May 22, 2013
CLINTON
By Leslie Bridgers lbridgers@pressherald.com
Staff Writer
CLINTON — This year’s Open Farm Day brought a record number of visitors to Caverly Farm on Sunday.
OPEN FARM DAY: Linda Bean, left, of Alna chats with her neighbor Mabel O'Brien while visiting Fieldstone Gardens, Inc. in Vassalboro during the 21st annual Open Farm Day on Sunday. "What a wonderful afternoon to get out and look at the flowers. They (Fieldstone Gardens) have a fabulous selection of day lilies," said Bean.
Photo by Jeff Pouland
Jayden Potter, 4, of Clinton looks out onto Caverly Farm while taking a hayride tour during the state’s 21st Open Farm Day on Sunday.
Staff photo by Leslie Bridgers
Neal Caverly, whose family owns the dairy farm on River Road, guessed at least 300 people had come through by mid-afternoon. He said he thinks that recently people have become more interested in the source of the food they eat.
“They want to know where their milk comes from,” he said.
About a hundred farms throughout the state welcomed the public onto their fields and into their barns for the 21st Open Farm Day.
Frank Caverly, Neal’s father, said their farm has participated in the event for the past few years.
“I think it’s worth it just to see the kids around the animals,” Caverly said.
A hay ride took visitors on a tour of the Clinton farm, where about 450 cows produce milk that is sold to Hood.
Children’s pet bunnies, chicks and a pony in a petting zoo were featured at the entrance to the farm. In a nearby barn, a collection of old milk bottles was on display, next to a snack bar with cheese, cookies and cartons of Hood milk.
For 12-year-old Donna Howell of Clinton, the highlight of the day was getting to milk a cow for the first time.
“It’s kind of hard when you haven’t done it before,” she said.
Howell, who also visited Flood Bros. Dairy Farm, down the road from the Caverlys’ farm, said she liked learning about how farmers do their jobs. Lindsey Sexton, Neal Caverly’s fiancee, said that’s exactly why she looks forward to the event.
“We just want to spread our joy and our love of farming to other people,” she said.
Leslie Bridgers — 861-9252
lbridgers@centralmaine.com
Copyright ©2013 MaineToday Media, Inc.
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