Agritourism conference is Nov. 3-4 in Great Bend
"Fields of Green: Building Agritourism So They Will Come," is the theme of the first statewide agritourism conference Nov. 3-4 in Great Bend.
It will provide information from expert speakers and panel discussions. Networking sessions will be held on issues such as where to begin, financing, business planning, media and public relations, marketing, web sites, and liability.
Operators of successful agritourism ventures within and outside of the state will provide firsthand information, including Becky Walters of Walters' Pumpkin Patch at Burns.
Out-of-state presenters include Maize Valley Farm of Hartville, Ohio, and Weston Red Barn of Weston, Mo.
The conference will include an informal reception where Gov. Kathleen Sebelius will speak, and food products promoted through the From the Land of Kansas program will be served.
The event is part of the Kansas Agritourism Initiative launched this year by the Kansas Department of Commerce. The goal is to generate more tourism revenue for the state and help Kansas farmers and ranchers boost income and preserve enterprises by tapping into the emerging market for agritourism.
Funding for the Agritourism Initiative is provided from state lottery proceeds.
To register for the conference, a form may be downloaded at www.kansascommerce.com by entering "agtourism" as a Connect Code. Registrants also may phone Janna Dunbar at 785-296-8132. Deadline is Oct. 25.
