Happy Father’s Day at the Canada Agriculture Museum

Happy Father’s Day at the
Canada Agriculture Museum

OTTAWA, June 12, 2009
For immediate release

The Canada Agriculture Museum is celebrating Father’s Day in style, Sunday, June 21 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Fathers, grandfathers and the whole family can join in special activities on this special day!

There are lots of demonstrations for the whole family to enjoy from cow washing to ice cream making! On this special day, children can make a lovely crafty gift for Dad and everyone can stop by the Demonstration Kitchen to taste some delicious beer bread perfect for Fathers Day. Don't forget to look for Name that Dad Scavenger Hunt clues throughout the barns to have fun learning about all the “fathers” of the farm animals. On this special occasion, Ottawa artist Crystal Beshara is launching her first children’s book, When I Visit the Farm and today also marks the start of our fifth annual Members Photo Contest so make sure you take advantage of all those great photo opportunities with Dad. Fathers and Grandfathers all enter free of charge today!

Daily Interpretation and Demonstrations
The following are the activities and demonstrations that will be featured at the Museum during Father’s Day:

9:30 Saddle Up! – Horse and Cattle Barn

10:00 Meet the Ram – Horse and Cattle Barn

10:30 Groom a Calf – Dairy Barn

12:00 Rabbit Care – Poultry House

1:15 Cow Washing or Care – Dairy Barn

2:00 Ice Cream Making and Tasting – Memory Park

2:30 Pig Quiz – Horse and Cattle Barn

3:00 Meet Eeyore the Donkey – Sheep Field

3:30 The Buzz about Honeybees – Demonstration Kitchen

4:00 Afternoon Milking – Dairy Barn

Cheesy Beer Bread Making and Tasting (10:15, 11:30, 1:30 and 2:30)
Visitors can come and help out our Interpreters make delicious bread using a special ingredient that dads are sure to appreciate. Also, visitors can taste a sample, learn about the interesting ingredients used and bring home a recipe to make their own bread to spoil Dad. Note that non-alcoholic beer will be used for this recipe.

Book Launch and Children’s Story Time (11:00 in English)
This Father’s Day, join us for Ottawa artist Crystal Beshara’s book launch. Inspired by her daughter’s joyful reactions to her discoveries at the farm, When I Visit the Farm is beautifully illustrated with Crystal’s unique paintings. Following the reading of the story, Crystal will be signing copies of her book, which is available for sale at the Boutique (Admissions). Visitors will also be able to enjoy Crystal’s paintings today as they are on display in the lobby of the exhibitions. They will remain on display there until the end of August.

Rope Making (9:45, 10:30, 1:00, and 3:00)
With the help of a friendly Museum Guide and the use of an inspired machine, learn how farmers in the past could turn inexpensive binder twine or even scrap twine into high quality rope. Frugal dads are sure to appreciate this novel money-saving device!

Photo Frame Craft (ongoing)
A great way to make sure that all of our young visitors can have a nice gift to give to Dad. This photo frame decorated to suit Dad’s taste will surely put a smile on his face!

“Name that Dad” Scavenger Hunt (ongoing)
Most people have heard of a “rooster” or a “bull” but what about a “drake”, a “jack” or a “tom”? Visitors will have fun with this Scavenger Hunt as they try to guess the correct names for male farm animals.

Members’ Photography Contest (ongoing)
The fifth edition of the photo contest for Members will be launched on Father’s Day. Members are invited to explore the Canada Agriculture Museum through the lens of a camera and submit photos between June 21 and October 31, 2009. From 10:00 to 4:00 today, all details of the contest are available in the Snack Area of the Dairy Barn.

Also...

Colouring Activity (ongoing)

Children’s Activity Centre located on the Exhibitions level.

Net surfers can “virtually” visit our Food for Health website at foodforhealth.ca and in the months ahead, our upcoming virtual exhibition Bees: A Honey of an Idea.

Museum-goers can visit the exhibition Brewer’s Gold: The History of the Hop Industry in British Columbia and the always popular Tractors exhibition.

Horse-drawn Tally-Ho wagon Rides ($), weather permitting.

“The Hot Potato Co” ($) will be available on site for the one-day event as food services.

Not to be missed...

Canadian Horse Weekend June 27 and 28
Canada Day July 1

The Canada Agriculture Museum, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2008, connects Canadians and the world to the historical and current importance in everyday life of agricultural science and technology through engaging interpretive activities and products centred on an accessible demonstration farm.

GENERAL INFORMATION
Hours

Exhibitions:
March 1 to October 31, daily 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Closed November 1 to February 28.

Animal Barns:
Daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed December 25. Admission is free to the Animal Barns November 1 to February 28.

Daily demonstrations: from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Plenty of free parking.
General admission
Families (2 adults and 3 children): $13
Additional children: $2 per child
Additional adults: $3 per adult
Adults: $6
Children under 3: free
Children (3–14): $3
Students: $5
Seniors (60+): $5, free on Tuesdays
Members: unlimited free admission and many more benefits

Groups of 20 or more: please call 613-991-3053 for rates
Fees subject to change without notice.

Location:
Prince of Wales Drive, between the traffic circle and Baseline Road. Free parking. The Canada Agriculture Museum is located on Prince of Wales Drive on the Central Experimental Farm.

Telephone: 613-991-3044
Toll free: 1-866-442-4416
TTY: 613-991-9207
Fax: 613-993-7923
Reservations for guided tours & school programs: 613-991-3053

Web Sites: agriculture.technomuses.ca
foodforhealth.ca

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MEDIA:

David Sutin
Manager, Communications, Marketing
CANADA AGRICULTURE MUSEUM
Tel. 613-996-7812;
E-mail : dsutin@technomuses.ca
or
Lucie Robillard
Communications, Marketing Clerk
Tel. 613-943-1164;
E-mail : lrobillard@technomuses.ca