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Last year visitors swarmed a handful of farms scattered throughout Crook County. Anyone from foodies to fun-loving children to the simply curious, sometimes numbering in the hundreds, would mill about.

These were no intruders. Instead, they were were drawn to the farms thanks to a first-year agritourism program called CROP (Crooked River Open Pastures), a partnership between the High Desert Food & Farm Alliance (HDFFA) and the Crook County Small Farm Alliance.

After a first year that was more successful than anyone anticipated, CROP will be back again this year. And like last year visitors are invited to peruse the fresh fruits and vegetables, check out the farm animals, enjoy live local music, or play farm-themed carnival games, all while learning about the small, local farms that are so important to Crook County.

“We thought we would get some people, but we were really blown away by getting about 100 people every time,” said Seth Crawford, Crook County Commissioner. “To me it’s just exciting. Not only are we teaching people about food, but we’re also bringing people into Crook County.”

CROP was the brainchild of Crawford along with a coalition of farmers, who were each looking for ways to attract visitors to Crook County while also educating the public about the area’s many small farms. And the HDFFA, which promotes a community-based food system, soon joined the effort.

Together they came up with a series of events that rotates from farm to farm on every other Saturday during the warmer months. Folks from all over come to the farms, take tours and shop at the farmers market all in a festive atmosphere.

“We were totally blown away by the reception,” said Jerre Kosta Dodson, who co-owns Dancing Cow Farms with her husband, Sean. “One of the things we really push is know your farmer. This bridges that gap so people can actually see how the animals are being treated, how the pasture is being treated, how the vegetables are grown, how the wood is being managed.”

But it probably would not work if the events were not fun. And diversity from week-to-week is key to the success.

This year’s series of CROP events begins in April with Goat Education Day at Bluestone Gardens on April 30. Dodson’s Dancing Cow Farm, which grows mostly organic vegetables and raises heritage breed farm animals, welcomes tour goers May 7 to join in the Mother’s Day event they’ve been hosting for years. The tour series will return to Dancing Cow Farm on July 16.

DD Ranch is well-known for its pumpkin patch each fall, but also raises beef and pork and features a petting zoo and hayrides, all of which promises to entertain visitors on May 21. Wine Down Ranch features a working lumber mill, offering those participating in the CROP series a unique experience on June 4.

Windy Acres Dairy, which specializes in producing raw milk products, hosts the tour on June 18, while Brasada Ranch — a resort that doubles as a ranch — will host its own tour on August 6. Prineville’s bike shop, Good Bike Company, will host two-wheeled tours along the CROP stops as well as hosting its own even on July 2.

And new this year will be a complete farm-to-table dinner hosted in downtown Prineville on July 9.

Even with the diversity, there are some staples that make the events so appealing. Each event is free, runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and features tours of the farm and the all-important farmers market with vendors from all around Crook County.

“Part of having all that diversity is so that there is something for everybody, and to make it family fun that is free,” Dodson said. “In some ways, it’s giving back to the community and it’s creating a festive attitude around the farms. It’s just having a big, happy day.”

Dodson hopes the events will continue to grow. And that means more vendors and more artisans to add to the already rich offerings.

Of course, there are benefits beyond just a fun day. Crook County’s economy relies on agriculture. And tourists help bring additional money into the county.

CROP helps on both fronts, drawing attention to the farms while enticing visitors from Bend, Redmond and beyond.

“I think the biggest thing is meeting the farmer,” Crawford said. “The feedback I heard is that it was just so cool to meet the people on the ground doing the work.”

The first year of CROP was so successful that it caught the attention of farmers in Jefferson County, who plan to kick offer a similar series of events later this year, according to the HDFFA.

Part of what made the events successful is that the locally sourced food movement has gained momentum in recent years, said Jess Weiland, the food and farm director at the HDFFA.

“How often do you get to go out to the farmer who produced the food and see how they are making it?” Weiland said. “I think it’s a unique opportunity. And the interest is there and we are at the forefront of that.”

Dodson said that CROP has already done a world of good for the farmers. It has helped bring awareness to those who might not have known much about small farms before.

And CROP has brought the farming community in Crook County together, bonding over a common purpose.

“Where it goes from here, I don’t know,” Dodson said. “It can go in any direction. But it will always be at least this. And our main goal is education and connecting people with their food. Anything else is a bonus.”

More information is available at www.hdffa.org/agriculture/farm-tours-c-r-o-p/ and on Facebook.