Author: Laura Maggard
Major Program: Agritourism Planning
For the past 8 years, the last weekend in September is when everyone gets out in the country, shops local, visits local farms, businesses, churches and spends the weekend enjoying the annual Heritage Harvest Tour. The Lawrence County ANR Extension Agent collaborated with local farmers, business owners and churches to plan the best yet self guided tour through Eastern Appalachia. The tour takes you back into time and shows you how life was many years ago. Tour goers see sorghum cooking, apple but
Author: William Crawford
Tourism has long been a vital part of Kentucky's economy. From sporting events such as the Kentucky Derby to natural attractions like Mammoth Cave, out of state travelers and Kentuckians alike enjoy what our Commonwealth has to offer. It is no secret that agriculture, like those venues, contributes greatly to the state economy. What is not fully capitalized on, however, is the connection agriculture can play within tourism.Agricultural tourism, or agritourism as it is somet
Author: Andy Mills
For the second year in a row this ANR agent has collaborated with the KY Giant Pumpkin Grower's Association, Meade County Tourism Board, Meade County FFA, and a local Agritourism farm to plan and implement a national weigh-off for a giant vegetable especially pumpkins and watermelons. Over 300 people attended the event from seven different states. It is estimated that this event generates nearly $10,000 for our community. Spectators are given the chance to learn about growi
Author: Corinne Belton
Comments from local users indicate Cooperative Extension remains a well-kept secret in Shelby County. As a means to change this perception the Shelby County Horticulture and Agriculture Council implemented the Shelby County Good Neighbors Farm Tour for the fifth consecutive year in hopes of promoting Extension programming while connecting the community to local agriculture.Cooperative Extension staff and a growing committee of Horticulture and Agriculture Council representatives and outside volu
Author: Brian Jeffiers
Farm income can often be enhanced with value-added enterprises. Agritourism has become a leading option for farmers looking to achieve this goal. When one Johnson County farmers' market vendor felt that he could make more money than his vegetable crops were providing, he met with the County Extension Agent to discuss developing a pumpkin patch as a tourism site. Over the next year, they planned marketing and production. Now into its second year of operation, One of A Kind Pumpkin Patch
The 2017 Shelby County Cooperative Extension field day at Mulberry Orchard was an enormous success. A large crowd of 305 people attended, despite high July temperatures and humidity. Mulberry Orchard is a local agribusiness and agritourism destination. Matt and Amanda Gajdzik were great hosts and also catered the meal through their Mulberry Kitchen. More than 250 guests pre-registered for the meal, with an additional 100 extra attendees who did not pre-register. Four large tents housed educ
