Experience Quesnel's long agricultural history by touring local farms and ranches that combine both traditional and modern farming techniques, exploring the farmers market, or visiting the Quesnel Agricultural Fair and Exhibition.
The North Cariboo Farm Tour includes two farms and two ranches, featuring opportunities to hand-pick fresh vegetables and strawberries, sample boreal amber birch syrup, learn to spin and weave wool, decipher a corn maze, and even hike with llamas. At the farmers market, open Saturdays from May to October, buy in-season produce, flowers, and baked goods from more than 30 vendors. The Quesnel Agriculture Fair and Exhibition held every September celebrates the bounty of summer.
North Cariboo Farm Tour
Moose Meadows Farm, situated on 26ha/65ac, operates on the principle of "farming with the season." Taste the unique and delectable boreal amber birch syrup, created through an intensive sugaring-off process that begins with tapping paper birch trees. Celebrate this process at the Sugaring Off Festival every spring. In Winter, sip a cup of hot cocoa and practice wreath decorating at a winter workshop. Stroll among pea-fowl in the barnyard or shop for special jams and jellies, such as Dandelion Blossom Jelly.
The Knauf family has been ranching for more than 100 years in the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast. On the Knauf Ranch, Percheron horses pull a sleigh in winter, and a wagon in summer, taking visitors all around the ranch's 194ha/480ac. In the farmyard, watch hens trailed by chicks and miniature pygmy goats stroll about. Visit the outdoor heritage museum with its unique focus on agricultural equipment.
The Coyote Acres and Pine Meadows Guest Ranch is a 283ha/700ac family ranch 10 minutes west of Quesnel. Hike with llamas, visiting the ponds and fields on the property, or practice being a ranch hand, tending to horses, cows, sheep, pigs, chickens and rabbits. Single-day or multi-day visits are available. Kids can even attend a camp and have their own llama for a week.
The Australian Ranch
The Australian Ranch, 32km/19mi south of Quesnel, constructs an intricate Corn Maze every year. Open from mid-July to late September, visitors are invited to explore the maze, participate in farm educational tours, and experience modern day ranch life. On Thanksgiving weekend, the ranch hosts an Annual Haunted House, decking out the family farm house, the maze, and adjacent trails with spooky decorations.
Quesnel Old Time Farmers' Market
Baked goods, fresh produce, flowers, and handmade crafts are found at the Quesnel Old Time Farmers Market at the corner of Carson Ave (Hwy 97) and Kinchant Street. More than 30 vendors gather every Saturday morning from May through mid-October for this bustling market.
Quesnel Agriculture Fair and Exhibition
The Quesnel Agriculture Fair and Exhibition is one of the city's premier annual family events. In addition to traditional Fall Fair events, enjoy the beauty of precision horseback riding, marvel at the strength of the draft horses, taste birch syrup and local honey, explore the region's history at the Old Iron display, as well as the tractors and farm equipment display. The Fair is held every Labour Day weekend (early September), at the Alex Fraser Park on North Star Road.
Stop by the The Quesnel & District Visitor Centre, located on Highway 97 and Carson Avenue at the south entrance to City Centre, and pick up a copy of the "North Cariboo Farm Tour," a brochure with maps and directions for all the agritourism in Quesnel.
Read Less