Do you love local food and farms? Want to get to know your local farmers better and get a behind-the-scenes look at Vermont’s vibrant working agricultural landscape?

Mark your calendar for Vermont Open Farm Week, August 15–21. It’s taking place at farms across Vermont. Join in the “Love Your Farmer” Scavenger Hunt throughout the Upper Valley Farmers’ Market. The Scavenger Hunt will take kids around the market to find, count, taste, and say what they love about farms and the farmers at the market. Every child who participates gets a small prize and is entered into a raffle to win a grand prize when they complete their scavenger hunt.

Participating farmers’ markets include New London, Hanover, Lebanon, and Canaan in New Hampshire, and Barnard, South Royalton, Chelsea, Hartland, Bellows Falls, Norwich, and Windsor in Vermont. The scavenger hunt coincides with both New Hampshire Eat Local Month (www.nheatlocal.org) and Vermont Open Farm Week.

“We love seeing kids and families get to know the Upper Valley’s farmers and local food. It helps them develop their sense of place, get excited about trying new foods, and begin to appreciate our agricultural landscape and those who work it,” says Beth Roy, Valley Food & Farm manager at Vital Communities. “This scavenger hunt offers a fun way to do all of those things, and we’re pleased to be partnering with farmers’ markets to bring the opportunity to families throughout the region.”

What’s the greatest part about Open Farm Week? During Vermont Open Farm Week, you can meet the farmers and visit the plants and animals that bring your favorite high-quality Vermont products to your plate. Every farm is unique. Milk a cow and harvest a carrot at one farm, sit on a tractor and take in the smell of freshly cut hay at another.

Find up-to-date lists of participating farms and search by location or product at DigInVT.com. There is so much to enjoy.