Open Farm Days draws more than 2,500 visitors across SLO County
By Camille DeVaul · Fri Jun 26 2026
Countywide agritourism event breaks attendance record, opens farms to public for hands-on tours, tastings, and education
NORTH COUNTY — San Luis Obispo County’s agricultural community welcomed more than 2,500 visitors this past weekend during the SLO County Farm Trail’s Open Farm Days, a countywide event that showcased local farming, ranching, and food production.
Hosted by local nonprofit FARMstead ED, the event drew guests from across the Central Coast and out of state, offering an immersive look at the people, products and places that define the area's agricultural industry. Participants toured farms, orchards, vineyards, ranches and artisan food producers throughout San Luis Obispo County, experiencing hands-on demonstrations, tastings and educational activities designed to connect the public with local food systems.
For the first time in the event’s history, Open Farm Days was free to attend. Organizers said the change helped expand access for families and first-time visitors who may not have otherwise been able to participate. Free admission was made possible through funding from a USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant partnership with UC SAREP’s California Open Farm Passport program, along with a Community Partnership Grant from Travel Paso.
“Our goal when starting FARMstead ED nearly 13 years ago, and the SLO County Farm Trail six years ago, was to introduce folks to our locally grown and made,” said Lynette Sonne, founder and herd boss of FARMstead ED. “This weekend did exactly that. Expectations were exceeded, and our hearts filled seeing so many people eager to learn about local agriculture and connect with the farmers, ranchers, and makers who feed and sustain our communities.”
Sonne noted that the continued growth of Open Farm Days reflects increasing public interest in local food production and agricultural education.
“The growth shows us how important it is to the public to learn more about our local family farms, where and how their food is grown and made,” she said.
She also emphasized the importance of accessibility.
“Taking a family anywhere these days can be expensive. What an awesome opportunity we had this year to make this experience available to so many,” Sonne said when asked whether free admission helped boost attendance among new visitors.
Agritourism, she added, plays a critical role in sustaining local agriculture.
“Growing food is expensive. To keep doing the right thing for the right reasons requires supplemental income, which agritourism provides,” Sonne said. “Agritourism also provides an engaging platform for farms in which to teach folks about their growing practices and food-producing systems.”
This year’s Open Farm Days featured 20 participating farms across the county, along with 23 farmers and makers who took part in the Friday Night Marketplace in Paso Robles City Park, which served as the weekend kickoff celebration. Together, the events highlighted the diversity of San Luis Obispo County agriculture and the wide range of products grown and produced locally.
While Open Farm Days has concluded, organizers encourage residents and visitors to continue exploring local agriculture year-round through the SLO County Farm Trail interactive map available at farmsteaded.com
Each participating farm offers unique experiences, products and visiting hours, providing ongoing opportunities to connect with the county’s agricultural community.
Feature Image by Brittany App