You should plan to attend the 11th annual farm tour on Saturday, Oct. 4.

A self-guided tour, this year’s event provides an opportunity to get an inside look at four farming operations.

The host farms are opening up their doors so that other families can gain insight into what their lives as farmers are like. You can go out, look, listen and ask questions and you and the farm families can get to know each other better.

The host families are the Thiele Dairy Farm, Har-Lo Farms, Henderson Equestrian Complex and Rustic Acres Winery. The farms are located in south and southeastern Butler County.

You are asked to limit your visits to between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. You can visit the farms in any order.

Keep in mind that in Butler County, nearly 2,000 men and women in a wide range of enterprises are employed in agriculture. They produce more than $43 million worth of food, timber and other agricultural products.

For a brochure, contact the Butler County Conservation District at 724-284-5270. We will be glad to send you the information.

Ron Fodor is district manager of the Butler County Conservation District.