Open Farms Is No More

IIt happened back in November of 2025.

At a meeting of the Frontenac County Community Advisory Committee, a report on the most recent version of the Frontenac County, Tourism Kingston sponsored Open Farms event, included a recommendation that after 8 years, the Open Farms event should be suspended.

In its place, County Community Development Officer Debi Miller said the county will re-focus its efforts in the agriculture sector towards 5 priorities.

When asked by committee member Mike Hage if Open Farms was being suspended because it had been unsuccessful this year. Miller said that some parts of it had been a great success, specifically the South Frontenac Plowing Match, which drew over 1,000 people on a brilliantly sunny September Sunday, but others had been lacking.

Miller said that the county invested $5,000 in cash in Open Farms, and 300 hours of staff time, which represented ¼ of the annual work time for the community development officer.

In place of Open Farms, the staff recommendation was to develop strategic partnerships in the agricultural sector, include joining the Culinary Tourism Alliance and Agritourism Ontario, increasing support for Farmers Markets, continuing to support the South Frontenac and Wolfe Island Farmers Market, adding content to the Frontenac County tourism web pages, and Farm to Fork Connection building, by looking into a new event aimed at bringing producers, retailers, and chefs together.

Sarah Hannon, the convenor of the Sharbot Lake Farmers Market and one of the owners of the Rise Farm, was involved in Open Farms for a number of years,

“I regret that it is gone,” she said, “but, I’m not surprised. Hopefully the new focus will be maintained, and will not be put aside for other county priorities.”

Richard Allen, Frontenac County Director of Economic Development said that when Open Farms started there were a number of new small farms in Frontenac County, who were able to fill their customer lists though Open Farms, but now that those lists are full, they are not as interested in Open Farms as they had been.

The committee accepted the staff report. At a subsequent meeting of Frontenac County Council, Frontenac County Chief Administrative Officer Kevin Farrell reported to Council that, having fulfilled its mandate, Open Farms will no longer be taking place.