MOOSE JAW — The Riverhurst Bean Festival has “an old-fashioned fair atmosphere” that honours pulse crops, agriculture and the family farm while celebrating family events, recreational activities and leisure opportunities.
The seventh annual event — “More than just ‘beans,’” as the tagline says — occurs on Saturday, July 26, about 124 kilometres northwest of Moose Jaw in the Village of Riverhurst.
The day-long festival includes breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m., an irrigation field and plot tour with speakers from 9 a.m. to noon, activities in the Riverhurst Ag Arena from 9 to 11 a.m., and concessions from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Furthermore, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., there is a trade show, marketplace/farmers’ market and children’s activities. Then, at 1 and 4 p.m., there is an interactive demonstration of a hula hoopster, while there is a music box dancer at 3 p.m.
Moreover, there is Ol’ McDales’ Friendly Farm Petting Zoo from noon to 4 p.m., the Saskatchewan Reptile Adventure Wrangler at 2 p.m., library story time at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., tours of the F.T. Hill Museum from noon to 5 p.m., a car show from noon to 3:30 p.m., a cruise in Palliser Park at 3:30 p.m. and a garden raffle draw at 5:30 p.m.
Also, there is live music in the beer gardens, with Bradford’s Corner performing from noon to 1:30 p.m., Jolie Blue from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., Townline Troubadours from 4 to 5:30 p.m., and the Tilted Kilts from 6 p.m. to close.
Admission to everything is free.
All the funds raised help the community, while the support of vendors, non-profits and other organizations ensures that the festival can continue to spread knowledge within the pulse industry, strengthen relationships among buyers and producers, and encourage appreciation for pulses and how healthy and sustainable they are, the festival says.
Terry Brennan, who founded the event in 2018, explained that she used to do custom bean farming, which was the rationale for starting the festival. She was also a village councillor, so the opportunity to “show off Riverhurst” while helping local organizations was too good to pass up.
“It was just to get the word out there about the pulse crop. And Riverhurst is a great area and (it was important) to bring people to the area … for tourism,” she continued.
Brennan noted that showcasing pulse crops and agriculture is important because of her farming history and because of the sponsors supporting the event. Moreover, many people — between 500 and 700 attend — who don’t have agricultural backgrounds are interested in taking tours and learning more about the beans and how they’re produced.
Continuing, she said that, compared to crops like wheat or canola, beans are grown differently and are sown like people do in their gardens. Furthermore, specialized equipment is required to harvest the pulses in a “gentle process,” as a conventional combine would damage the product.
Brennan pointed out that the bean seeds — like chickpea, pinto, lentil, black, mung, kidney, lima and navy — come from Manitoba, while the equipment comes from Idaho and Alberta. In comparison to a typical combine, the machines used to harvest pulses have — among other differences — thin wheels and lack augers.
Meanwhile, the festival founder said her favourite parts of the event include the music and the kids’ activities.
“It’s an old-fashioned fair atmosphere … It’s like an old-time fair. It’s small and intimate and a good time,” Brennan said. “As wonderful as big exhibitions are, you can’t let kids roam the grounds on their own. This is small-town everything.”
Added Brennan, “A small town can put on great things.”
For more information, visit the festival’s Facebook page or the village’s website.
