September 17, 2008

Indiana Farm Sustainability Tour to feature agritourism

"Tourism is extremely important to this region of the state and agritourism is contributing to the growth of the tourism industry in northeast Indiana," said Steve Engleking, Purdue University Extension educator in LaGrange County and co-chair of Purdue's Small Farm and Sustainable Agriculture Team. "The tour will give participants an opportunity to look at these farms and learn how they operate their agritourism business."

Two stops at local farms in Noble and Elkhart counties are included in the tour.

The first will be Fashion Farm, owned by Jason and Vicki Becker. Fashion Farm includes a farm restaurant, a pumpkin fantasyland, countryscapes, gardens and more.

The tour also will visit Knollbrook Farm, operated by John and Cynthia Adam. Knollbrook Farm has 50 registered Holsteins and Jersey cattle to milk. Their farm also features a scavenger hunt corn maze, pumpkin patch, farm animal corral, play areas and farm buildings.

The schedule for the tour follows:

* 9:30-10 a.m. Registration at Fashion Farm.

* 10 a.m. Opening and welcome by Engleking and Hanson Young, Purdue Extension educator from Noble County.

* 10-11:45 a.m. Tour Fashion Farm.

* 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Lunch at Fashion Farm and a presentation by Farm Bureau Insurance on "Insurance Needs for Agritourism."

* 12:45 p.m. Travel to Knollbrook Farm.

* 1 p.m. Welcome by Jeff Burbrink, Purdue Extension educator from Elkhart County.

* 1:05-2:55 p.m. Tour Knollbrook Farm.

* 3 p.m. Tour ends.

For more information and to register, go online to https://www.conf.purdue.edu/farmtours . The tour is $15 per person, which includes lunch, refreshments and related materials. Registration is due by Sept. 22.

The 2008 Indiana Farm Sustainability Tours are sponsored by the Purdue Small Farms Team, Purdue New Ventures Team, Indiana State Department of Agriculture and North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education.

For questions and more information about this or upcoming tours, contact Lynn Stocksick at (800) 359-2968, lastocksick@purdue.edu .

Writer: Elizabeth Fritz, (765) 494-8402, elfritz@purdue.edu

Source: Steve Engleking, (260) 499-6334, sengleking@purdue.edu

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