See “Ewe” at the Farm in May at the Canada Agriculture Museum!

See “Ewe” at the Farm in May at the Canada Agriculture Museum!

OTTAWA, April 26, 2009
For immediate release

Highlights in May at the Canada Agriculture Museum include Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 10^th, Sheep Shearing Festival each day of the Victoria Day Weekend, May 16^th to 18^th, and a variety of daily demonstrations. The Canada Agriculture Museum also has plenty of outdoor space, including grassy areas with picnic tables and a children’s outdoor play structure.

Mother’s Day - May 10
Mothers, grandmothers and the whole family can join in special activities at the Canada Agriculture Museum to celebrate Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 10. Visitors will learn how farm women contribute to a successful family farm and how it’s the farm’s female animals that work year round to produce many of the foods on which we depend. Free admission for all mothers.

Sheep Shearing Festival - May 16 to 18
It’s time for the sheep to be shorn. Visitors can watch sheepherding demonstrations, wool spinning and weaving, felt-making, Border Collies at work, see alpacas on display and much more. An expert shearer will give sheep shearing demonstrations throughout each day. Families and children of all ages can take part in a variety of fun activities.

Special Invitation to Seniors
Every Tuesday from March to October, seniors (60+) are admitted free.

Museum Passport
“Explore Canada's cultural treasures, its national museums, with the Museums Passport. Ottawa-Gatineau provides a uniquely capital experience through its national attractions”. The Passport is exchangeable for admission to 10 participating museums including the Canada Agriculture Museum.

DAILY INTERPRETATION AND DEMONSTRATIONS IN MAY
Every day, visitors can learn more about Canadian agriculture and about the food and fibres that make our way of life possible.

9:30 Rabbit Care – Horse & Cattle Barn

10:15 Groom a Calf – Dairy Barn

11:00 Children’s Story and Craft (in English) – Activity Centre

11:20 Children’s Story and Craft (in French) – Activity Centre

12:00 Meet the Sheep and Goats – Horse & Cattle Barn

1:00 Making (and tasting!) Butter – Demonstration Kitchen

1:30 Meet Goody the Bull – Horse & Cattle Barn

2:30 Cow Washing or Care – Dairy Barn

3:00 The Buzz About Honeybees – Demonstration Kitchen

4:00 Afternoon Milking - Dairy Barn

Also...

On weekends, in the Demonstration Kitchen, visitors can help one of the Museum’s friendly interpreters make bread at 10:00 and 2:00.

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.

On weekends, horse-drawn Tally-Ho wagon rides ($), weather permitting.

Not to be missed...

Mother’s Day: May 10
Sheep Shearing Festival: May 16 to 18
Father’s Day: June 21

Birthday Parties
Children ages 3 -12 can enjoy a MOOving Experience with games, ice cream and a special tour of the barns. Children 5 to 12 year-old can get cooking with a Pizza Party and taste the rewards of all their hard work after visiting the animals. Round ‘em Up! Children ages 7 - 12 can make “mud pie” and take a closer look at horses and herding. For information and to register call 613 991-3053.

The Canada Agriculture Museum, which celebrated its 25^th 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

- 30 -

MEDIA:

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