More than 320 people of all ages attended the 2014 Breakfast on the Dairy Farm event at the Van der Sluijs Dairy on June 21.
The second-annual event was co-sponsored by Alberta Milk, East Olds Dairy Farmers and the Southern Alberta Holstein Club to raise awareness of what goes into making dairy products.
This year's Breakfast on the Dairy event at the Van der Sluijs Dairy included complimentary breakfast, barn tours, ultrasound demonstrations, face painting and equestrian vaulting demos.
The dairy is located east of Olds, eight kilometres south of Highway 27 on Rge. Rd. 284.
Owner Herman van der Sluijs said the event was a great way to show people all the things that go into producing milk.
“The goal is that we want the people to see where the milk comes from,” said Van der Sluijs. “With more people living in cities and towns, they don't always see where the milk comes from; they see it in the stores packaged.
“This way they can see what the background is. We have to show the consumers where the milk comes from.”
The Van der Sluijs Dairy houses 155 cows and more than 100 calves. The dairy produces about 4,000 litres a day, 365 days a year.
Feed for the animals is grown in the fields around the dairy.
Van der Sluijs says the dairy industry is very strong in Alberta and he expects that trend to continue.
“There is a lot of good demand for milk,” he said.
The industry has changed a lot over the last few decades, he said.
“There is more automation and styles and designs of the dairies have changed,” he said.
Originally from Holland, the Van der Sluijses moved to the district in 2001. Interestingly, the Van der Sluijses are one of many Dutch families who have immigrated to the east side of Mountain View County to set up dairies,
“It's a little Holland here,” he said with a laugh. “I think about 80 per cent of dairy farmers in Alberta today are from Holland, first, second and third generation. It's a lifestyle and I like it.”
Tom Kootstra, chairman of Alberta Milk, was on hand for the event. He said informing the public about dairy operations is a great way to promote the industry.
“The consumer is so far removed from where their food is produced,” said Kootstra.
“This helps them understand and appreciate the science and management behind the food they consume. It's very effective in helping the consumer understand.”
Asked about the overall health of the dairy industry in Alberta, he said, “It's strong and it's stable. There are 560 farmers who are doing things right every day.”
This year's event included horse vaulting demonstrations by Angelique van der Sluijs and her sister Jeanine van der Sluijs at the Meadow Creek Vaulting Club located next to the dairy.
The Alberta Farm Animal Care organization had a representative on hand at the event to answer questions and distribute literature.
Last year's Breakfast on the Dairy event was held at the Huntscliff Dairy, located just east of the Van der Sluijs Dairy.
A third-annual Breakfast on the Farm day will very likely be held next year, said Kootstra.
