Harlins of Asigh opening gates of dairy enterprise

Jim and Jake Harlin will host an AgriAware Open Farm event this weekend at their Kilmessan holding. The Harlins milk 340 cows at Asigh, Bellinter, and are prime example of the type of innovation and technology that is being implemented on farms nowadays that allows for the sustainable production of top-quality food.

Open Farm is an event, where the gates of a family run farm are opened for the general public to visit. Visitors will get an opportunity to see firsthand how the milk produced on one of Ireland’s 17,000 dairy farms is produced via milking demonstrations with the Harlins. Not only that, some of the delicious produce that is made from milk will be on offer to sample, from the milk itself, to cheese and ice-cream.

To add to that, cooking demonstrations will also be on the schedule, using some of the other fine produce produced on farms, such as beef and lamb.

Bringing it back to the farm, visitors will have the opportunity to see the Harlin herd of cows, how they are working with nature to ensure a sustainable future for the farm as well seeing up close, the process involved in milking cows.

Due to demand over the past three years, Open Farm will take place over two days, on Saturday and Sunday, August 29th and 30th, offering those of all ages the chance to attend and get a closer look of exactly how food is produced on farms.

On arrival through the gates, visitors will begin a self-guided audio tour of the farm, walking the farm, seeing the cows grazing and taking in the eye catching scenery from trees, to hedgerows and wildlife before arriving back to the main yard to the family area that will be a hive of activity from livestock and cookery demonstrations, panel discussion and fun games and entertainment for children to engage with

Jake Harlin says: “The opportunity to open the farm to the general public excited us as a family. We are very passionate about what we do here, from caring for our livestock, enhancing the biodiversity on the farm and producing a food product that we can stand behind and be proud of in the form of milk. We look forward to seeing people over the two days and engaging with the public and answering any questions they may have about what we do as family here on the farm.”

Chairperson of Agri Aware, Shay Galvin, echoed Jake’s comments, saying: “Once again we are delighted to offer the general public an opportunity to attend our Open Farm event, this year on the Harlins' farm and see for themselves exactly how food is produced. Open Farm is a unique opportunity to visit a family-run farm where three generations of the Harlin family are involved in the day-to-day running. This is an event for people of all ages to attend to get an opportunity to understand, feel and taste exactly how much work, care and passion goes into producing food that Ireland is renowned for producing globally."

Agri Aware, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, acknowledges continued support for Open Farm from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Irish Farmers Association, the National Dairy Council and Tirlán.

To order tickets, visit here. Gates open to the public from 10.30am – 5pm on Saturday and Sunday, 29th and 30th August.