The 2023 City to Farm Tour was held on September 19th, 2023 with well over 70 local business leaders/ Pulaski county chamber members in attendance. Extension partnered with the Somerset-Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce to plan the bi-annual event now for the past 12 years. The event is to help educate our community about the changes that have occurred in agriculture over the past decades. This behind-the-scenes look at local agriculture allowed community leaders the opportunity to meet the hard-working farmers and producers who keep the heritage of agriculture alive and viable in Pulaski County. This event not only gives those that are not involved in the day to day operations a chance to ask question but it also gives the farmer the opportunity to talk about the business side of our industry. This is an opportunity for both communities to come together on common ground and hear each other concerns.  

In 2023. The 1st stop was Contennital Refinery Company ( CRC ) . At this stop we had an opportunity for the group to see the newest and only soybean processing facility in this part of Kentucky.  With over 100 employees this stop gave participant’s the opportunity to see a large scale operation that most didn’t even realize existed in Pulaski County.  The next stop was Glory Greenhouse. This tour stop gave the group the chance to see the retail side of the Ag industry and what is being done to help educate people on the struggles for a small family retail operation in today's environment. The 3rd stop was a local seed stock producer. This Cattle operation is unique that it is one of the few in the country that has the genetic line up this side of the Mississippi river.  Suite's us Farms a local grain and cattle operation that has also ventured into the event venue business  was our final stop for the tour. Suite's us farm has been involved in many different aspect of the agriculture industry over its rich history and gave a great insight into how things have changed over the years.  Each farmer gave a personal glimpse into his operation and some of the unique situations farmers in the 21st century have that non-farmers might not think about.

The group ended the afternoon at the Pulaski County Extension Office for a meal. The meal was sourced 100% from Pulaski County and Kentucky Proud foods, even the wheat to make the bread.

This City to Farm Tour is a recurring event that happens every second year. It's a great way to showcase some of the great farming businesses in Pulaski County and in turn, market their products to the non-farming community.