July 13, 2005

Purdue, Indiana Department of Tourism tout agritourism

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - McClure's Tate Orchard in Peru, Ind., will host one of a series of workshops about agritourism on July 18.

Wineries, farmers markets, orchards, tree farms, corn mazes and tours of family farms make up just some of Indiana's agritourism attractions.

"There are many assets in rural Indiana that may need a little nurturing," said Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman, who oversees the state's tourism efforts and serves as Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. "Tourism brings in almost $7 billion each year into our state. I would like to see agritourism develop into a bigger piece of Indiana's tourism pie. These workshops will help do that."

The workshops, sponsored, in part, by the Indiana Office of Tourism Development and Purdue University, will provide an overview of agritourism potentials and address specific issues related to developing a product and business. Experts and panelists from Purdue University, Small Business Development Centers and successful agritourism enterprises will share case studies and discuss topics ranging from developing a business plan to choosing insurance policies and dealing with risk mitigation.

"Agritourism provides unique opportunities for farmers and rural communities to expand beyond traditional crops," said Roy Ballard, a Purdue Cooperative Extension Service educator in Floyd County. "These workshops will focus on tourism and its connections to the family farm. We'll give real-world advice about how to start, maintain and grow an agritourism operation."

The workshop days and times are as follows:

• July 18, McClure's Tate Orchard and Apple Dumpling Inn, Peru, Ind., 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

• Aug. 3, Freeman Family Farms, Bloomington, Ind., 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

• August 25, White Violet Center for Eco Justice, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Ind., 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

• Sept 28, Ratliff's Pine Retreat and Christmas Tree Farm, Springport, Ind., 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

A tour of the facility is offered at each event.

Cost is $25 and includes lunch. One-week advance registration is encouraged, but same-day registration is accepted if space permits. To register, or for more information, contact the Four Rivers RC&D at (812) 354-6808, ext. 5, or rivers4@sigecom.net. Similar topics are discussed at each workshop, but the speakers may vary.

The agritourism workshops were made possible through a USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Professional Development Program grant and through contributions from the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service, the Indiana Office of Tourism Development, Indiana Small Business Development Centers, Indiana State Department of Agriculture, the Indiana League of Resource Conservation and Development Councils Inc. and the Indiana Cooperative Development Center.

Writer: Kay Hagen, (765) 494-6682, kjh@purdue.edu

Sources: Roy Ballard, (812) 948-5470, rballard@purdue.edu

Becky Skillman, (317) 232-4545

Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Beth Forbes, forbes@purdue.edu
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