The 2017 City to Farm Tour was held on September 14th, 20017 with well over 70 local business leaders/ Pulaski county chamber members in attendance. Extension partnered with the Somerset-Pulaski Co Chamber of Commerce to plan the event. 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 2017 five Pulaski County locations were toured. The 1st stop was the Pulaski county high school green house. At this stop on the tour we had the chance to see how the teachers are using the green house to bring a hands on approach to there curriculum. We also had a chance to talk a little about how the tobacco funds helped make the high school getting the green house possible. The next stop was a 4th generation cow/calf operation in northern Pulaski county.This stop showed us the different was that cattle can be marketed. This operation is not only a seed stock producer they also market cattle through the local stockyards, and Laura's lean beef corporation. The  3rd stop was a local meat packing facility. This was another opportunity for us to show what the tobacco funds have been able to do for Pulaski county. At this stop everyone got to hear about the steps in the slaughter process. We were able to tour the facility and see all that equipment that goes into the process.  This also gave the participants the chance to see some of the process in the meat industry going form the cattle operations to the packing plant. The 4th stop on this years tour was the local Southern States. This stop was picked to show the agribusiness side of agriculture. Here everyone got to see what goes on in this side of agriculture. From sales to custom applications. The last tour stop was a local greenhouse producer. Here we got the chance to hear about the many aspects that go into raising plants that most of us don't think about. The time,amount of inputs and other cost that really don't cross a persons mind when buying flowers or plants from a greenhouse.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.