Visit Iowa Farms Agritourism Conference Planned for March 15
By ISU Extension
Once upon a time, most Iowans had some connection to agriculture. Today, a very small percentage of Iowans population is involved in production agriculture. However, the lure of rural culture and life remains. Agritourism brings opportunities for rural Iowans to educate, inform and entertain travelers on rural life and agriculture.
A team of service providers from across the state hopes to grow the Iowa landscape for agritourism operations. The team, which has been meeting over the year, hopes to help Iowa agritourism producers begin or expand their business and marketing efforts.
The Iowa Agritourism Working Group, supported by the Value Added Agriculture Program and other departments within Iowa State University Extension, the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, the Iowa Department of Agriculture, Iowa Department of Economic Development, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Silos and Smokestacks, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation and the Iowa Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association, is planning a conference to address the importance and issues surrounding marketing agritourism operations. Value Added Agriculture Program Director Ray Hansen said this team addresses important challenges in growing this industry in Iowa.
Rural tourism activities are the third most popular activities in Iowa, and spending on rural trips accounts for a growing percentage of total Iowa tourism revenues. Our goal is to enable producers to grow this industry, Hansen said.
The Visit Iowa Farms conference is planned for March 15 at the Scheman Building on the Iowa State University campus in Ames. The conference agenda will focus on marketing issues and will open with comments from Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey. Sessions will target marketing plan development, website marketing, creating a hospitality mindset, market research, ad creation and farm signage. Producer panels are planned for question and answer sessions. Partial funding for the conference is provided by the North Central Risk Management Education Center.
For registration information, visit http://www.ucs.iastate.edu/mnet/iowafarms/home.html. For more information, contact the Value Added Agriculture Program at 515-294-9483.
Marsha Laux, program coordinator, Iowa State
University Extension, Value Added Agriculture Program, 319-796-4362,
mlaux@iastate.edu
Malinda Geisler, program coordinator, Iowa State University Extension,
Value Added Agriculture Program, 515-964-2640, malindag@iastate.edu
Christa Hartsook, communications specialist, Iowa State University
Extension, Value Added Agriculture Program, 515-294-4430,
hartc@iastate.edu
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Monday, February 25
Visit Iowa Farms Agritourism Conference Planned for March 15
by
Sam Garchik
on Mon 25 Feb 2008 08:56 AM CST
Tuesday, February 5
Practical Farmers of Iowa Launches Next Generation Program
by
Sam Garchik
on Tue 05 Feb 2008 09:29 AM CST
Practical Farmers of Iowa Launches Next Generation Program
By the IFU Practical Farmers of Iowa is recruiting farmers for their Next Generation learning community. Margaret Smith and Tom German will lead a two-part training session on family goal setting and communication to kick off the program. The sessions are scheduled for February 12 and March 6, 12:00-8:00 pm at the Harvest Vineyard Church in Ames. Margaret Smith is a PFI farmer, ISU Extension Specialist and certified trainer in Holistic Management. Tom German is a consultant for PFI, leading grazing cluster teams, as well as a PFI farmer. Practical Farmers of Iowa established the Next Generation program based upon needs voiced by families facing this transition. Jim Peterson, Knoxville, farms with his sons. You have to be sure to listen and be willing to look at things the younger generation suggests Dieter Geest, who farms with his father near Davenport, said training to figure out how to work together and not get angry with each other, and how to work out a business plan so nobody feels like theyre getting a bad deal would be helpful. This opportunity is for a family with a son or daughter hoping to return to the farm as well as a farmer who has identified someone other than a family member to potentially take over the farm. People at all stages of this transition are eligible, from someone who is just starting to think about how to integrate a specific person to those who transitioned years ago. The group will meet throughout 2008 and 2009, and is open to participants statewide. Participation of both generations is required. The only fee for the first two sessions is a potluck dish to share at dinner. Practical Farmers of Iowa is able to present this program for transitioning farmers with funding from The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture Pre-registration is required for this event. The registration deadline is February 8. To learn more about the Next Generation learning community or to register, contact Cedar Johnson at (515)232-5661, or cedar@practicalfarmers.org. PFI is a non-profit sustainable agriculture group dedicated to farming that is profitable, environmentally sound, and healthy for consumers and communities. Founded in 1985, PFI has over 700 farmer and non-farmer members throughout Iowa. For more information, call 515-232-5661 or visit www.practicalfarmers.org . |
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