June 18th was the farm’s warmest day yet this year, on several counts. Open Day landed at the beginning of a heat wave, which is always welcome at Crag House Farm, where the weather can be moody. It was also “warm” on the fellowship front, with at least 1,300 visitors and a stellar crew of more than 100 volunteers keeping the events running smoothly.

Each lunchtime during the week leading up to Open Day, everyone paused halfway through pudding to practice “the hymn” – “Amazing Grace,” this year – which they would sing for the prayer supporters’ service. Some of the men participated in a play at the end of the day of the parable of the Good Samaritan. They rehearsed with Joanna for a couple weeks leading up to the day. Others practiced skits that they’d performed at Christmas parties gone by. The men on the CMP team did an “alternative” Morris Dance that was a big hit last Christmas.

The preparations also involved weeks of weeding and mowing and trimming, controlling the mad spring growth so the gardens, hedges and ponds were neat and presentable. The farm lane also needed patching in anticipation of hundreds of cars. Those who work outdoors scrambled to get every area cleaned up simultaneously, finally sweeping muddy tractor tracks from the yard late the evening before.

The final detail – good weather – was out of everyone’s hands, but the many prayers for a sunny day were answered. Hundreds of people showed up for the 10:30 service, overflowing the large marquee. People from about 60 different churches brought their greetings, representing all corners of the British Isles and even parts of Europe. In addition to a talk by Peter Parkinson and hymn singing, the gathering was an opportunity for all those who attend the daytime projects to receive achievement awards. For many, the certificates listed milestones they’ve reached in literacy and numeracy classes; others have shown special aptitude in tasks they’ve taken on. James Barker, the former High Sheriff of West Yorkshire who is now Deputy Lieutenant and his wife, Juliet, did the honours of distributing the awards, as they had last year.

After the service, people scattered to all areas of the farm and more visitors started pouring through the welcome tent.

Several supporters have regular stands and sales tables. There were representatives from the Christian Motorcyclists’ Organisation, who parked a Harley Davidson by a table of evangelical literature that they bring along to motorcycle gatherings. A couple who give spinning and weaving demonstrations set up a spinning wheel, helping children interested in the process feed the wool and work the pedal. Other supporters manned used bookstalls, a bric-a-brac table, and a selection of beautiful items made from turned wood, in addition to a very popular cake stall.

As always, Pat’s home-baked scones and clotted cream went down a treat, as did the gipsy cream biscuits. The burger bar staff worked very hard to serve the queues of eager customers and we sold out of the very popular Crag House Farm beefburgers on the day.

The afternoon’s entertainment included a puppet presentation by friends from Ripon who regularly use this medium to present a gospel message. People gathered in the shade of the marquee to watch, and the crowd remained for one of the day’s most popular events: Geoffrey Smith and Joe Maiden pooled their wealth of gardening knowledge to answer questions from a packed house, telling stories and bantering with each other.

The regular farm events included sheep shearing, horse shoeing and a demonstration by the wood workshop team of how they carve walking sticks. Across the yard from the workshop, the guinea pig show gave owners – mostly children – the opportunity to show their guinea pigs and take home awards. A play area for children held activities such as a bouncy castle and hay bale “building blocks.”

Many people made it down the valley, either on foot or by golf buggy, to see how the conservation area is developing. Peter McIlmoyle, manned the pond dipping station. He had scooped a collection of insects at various stages of development and other creatures scooped from the pond; they swarmed in clear, shallow containers, waiting identification.

Larger animals populated most corners of the farm. Pheasants and other exotic fowl were on display near the top pond; Long Horn cattle and the newborn calves – some just hours old – grazed in one field; the new ponies and Luther, the Shire horse, greeted people over the doors of their stable; and some of the new lambs took centre stage in a little pen in the orchard.

Another popular event was a marathon row by Rod Wark, who did a sponsored row of 26 miles on an indoor rowing machine on the day!

On the left here is Gary Don from Radio Leeds, who kindly came along and donated his time for the “All It’s Worth” fundraising event, to which visitors could bring their “valuables” for pricing by an expert. We would like to thank Gary very much for his help with this event.

The day was not just successful in quantifiable terms; those whom CFL helps were able to meet many of the people whose generosity makes the work possible and show them a slice of life on their various projects. Gary, who lives at Tindall House, wanted to share a message with those who came when he was asked how Open Day went for him:

“I’d like to say thank you for your lovely kind words and your heart. And if we didn’t have everybody who gives money in, the farm wouldn’t be here. And for the girls and the lads, thank you for coming to the Open Day and God bless you.”