Brian and Dianne Duder are looking forward to showing city-dwellers where their milk comes from. Photo / Glenn Jeffrey
Townies will have the chance to find out exactly where their milk comes from tomorrow, as farms throughout the country are opened to the public.
About 30 farms are taking part in the Federated Farmers Farm Day where the public - city-dwellers in particular - are invited to
see how farms work.
One farm preparing its cattle and sheep for the big day is Brian and Dianne Duder's dairy operation, Waitiro Farm, in Clevedon, South Auckland.
Mrs Duder says she is looking forward to showing people how hard it is to run a farm and also seeing the surprise on children's faces.
"It's really about letting urban people, or townies, come out and see how farmers work and especially the children - it lets them see where the milk really comes from," she said.
"They're the ones that will get the best out of [Farm Day]."
Covering 75ha, Waitiro Farm has been run by four generations of the Duder family since the 1860s.
Mrs Duder said inviting people on to the property would show them the importance of agriculture in the New Zealand economy, while also reminding them of their roots.
"There was one time when everybody knew somebody who had a farm. You knew what it was about, what the day spent at the farm was like - hard work. Now there's a real line between farm life and people living in the city."
Mrs Duder has some practical advice for anyone interested. "You might want to bring a sunhat and sunscreen - and maybe gumboots."
Federated Farmers Farm Day runs from 10am to 3pm tomorrow.
Details of farms participating can be found at www.farmday.org.nz
