4th Farm in the City Edition to Bring Farming Closer to Public

On the afternoon of Wednesday 13 March 2024, a press conference took place at Luxembourg's Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Viticulture ahead of the Bauerenhaff and der Stad (Farm in the City) project set to take place from 22 to 24 March 2024 next to the Gëlle Fra (Golden Lady) in the Place de la Constitution, in Luxembourg-Ville.

According to Lëtzebuerger Landjugend a Jongbaueren Asbl, consumers nowadays know very little about how their food is produced. This is why the non-profit organisation has organised, for the fourth time this year, another edition of the Farm in the City fair. The weekend of Friday 22 to Sunday 24 March aims to raise awareness of farming procedures and farmers' practices.

“We need to bring farming closer to the people,” Luxembourg’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Viticulture, Martine Hansen, said. She explained that it is often difficult for office workers and families in the city to imagine what the work of farmers entails, which is why the “Fro de Bauer” (ask the farmer) initiative forming part of this project is so important. She also revealed that plans are underway to make farming part of the school curriculum in future.

Representatives of the Landjugend a Jongbaueren Asbl organisation discussed the programme for the upcoming event. On Friday 22 March, school classes from Luxembourg-ville will be invited to learn more about farming in Luxembourg. Each class will be able to take part in up to two workshops. Later in the evening, an after-work party is on the agenda.

On Saturday 23 March, the day will start at 10:00 and it will be available for a wider public. The events on the day will include a show-cooking entertainment programme with Luxembourg personalities competing in a cook-off (two guests per hour), such as Claude Meisch, Luxembourg’s Minister of Education and Youth, Lydie Polfer, Mayor of the City of Luxembourg, Eric Thill, Minister for Culture, Minister Hansen, and many more. On Saturday, Luxembourg’s Grand Duke will also visit the fair.
Visitors will also be able to observe how cows are milked, and a Kahoot quiz will be organised in the big tent.

Throughout the day, an old-fashioned threshing machine (a piece of farm equipment that separates grain seed from the stalks and husks) will transform corn into kernels that will then be made into popcorn. 

On Sunday 24 March, another show-cooking will take place from 11:00. Later in the afternoon, at 14:00, a concert will take place, played by the Landjugend band. In the end, an auction will be held for a good cause – e.g. to help support farmers in Africa.

Various farm animals will be brought on-site such as sheep, cows, pigs, and also small animals for children to discover. Various child-friendly activities will be on offer as well, such as tractors for children, a jumping castle and workshops. Among the workshops available, there will be activities such as: milking cows, learning more about horses, sheep and goats, making popcorn and using the threshing machine, baking bread and more. Luxembourgish products will be available for tasting, with various local producers featuring their merchandise.