TVOkids premiers Gabby’s Farm

May 10, 2021

A real farm kid from Ontario is the star of a new preschool kids show about agriculture

By Jackie Clark
Staff Writer
Farms.com

A kid’s television program showcasing agriculture in Ontario is set to premier on TVOkids on May 17. Gabby’s Farm features six-year-old Gabby and her family, showing viewers what life is like on a farm.

“As creators we’re always trying to see what type of stories are being told and what might be missing for kids viewing,” Daniel Bourré, one of the creators of the show, told Farms.com. Live-action educational shows are rare for preschool aged viewers, he explained, and “we just didn’t see anything being done about agriculture or farming.”

Bourré “saw an opportunity to tell a real story about a real girl who lives on a farm,” he added. “We thought it would be important for young viewers and their families to see where food comes from and get an understanding of machinery and chores and what seasons are like on a farm.”

The show also holds visual appeal for a young audience.

“Who doesn’t love animals or giant machines?” Bourré said.

Gabby was selected from a province-wide call.

“We went to visit her, and she was a real farm kid, really hands-on with the animals,” Chloe Gray, producer at BGM Sphere media, told Farms.com.

“As soon as we got there she was climbing over gates and running around with the animals and showing us everything. So, we could see that she was the perfect kid to show viewers what happens on the farm,” she explained.

gabby with calf

The first season of Gabby’s Farm contains 30 seven-minute episodes.

“Each episode will look at a different topic,” Bourré explained.

Most episodes take place on Gabby’s home farm, however she also visits other agricultural operations in the region, including an apple orchard, Christmas tree farm and maple bush.

“It’s very fun, there are educational takeaways, but it’s more that kids will get to see and experience a farm through Gabby’s eyes,” Bourré said.

Gabby displays the spirit of the curious and adventurous farm kid, bravely taking the glove off of her bee suit and tasting honey fresh from the hives when they visit a beekeeper.

Gray and Bourré hope that the show will be well-received so they can continue to film more episodes this summer.

BGM Sphere media photo

Video: A chain harrow is a game changer

Utilizing a rotational grazing method on our farmstead with our sheep helps to let the pasture/paddocks rest. We also just invested in a chain harrow to allow us to drag the paddocks our sheep just left to break up and spread their manure around, dethatch thicker grass areas, and to rough up bare dirt areas to all for a better seed to soil contact if we overseed that paddock. This was our first time really using the chain harrow besides initially testing it out. We are very impressed with the work it did and how and area that was majority dirt, could be roughed up before reseeding.

Did you know we also operate a small business on the homestead. We make homemade, handcrafted soaps, shampoo bars, hair and beard products in addition to offering our pasture raised pork, lamb, and 100% raw honey. You can find out more about our products and ingredients by visiting our website at www.mimiandpoppysplace.com. There you can shop our products and sign up for our monthly newsletter that highlights a soap or ingredient, gives monthly updates about the homestead, and also lists the markets, festivals, and events we’ll be attending that month.