May-June 2016 - Kentucky Farms are Fun

Agritourism Kentucky
A KENTUCKY AGRITOURISM INDUSTRY MANAGEMENT NEWSLETTER
Applications processed every month
Grants help promote farm impact
of your Kentucky Proud products
By Jim Trammel
Up to $12,000 per year in grant funding is available to your
Kentucky agritourism operation if you will describe how your
plan will add value to Kentucky farms, said Jonathan Van
Balen of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA).
A committee meets the first Wednesday of every month
to evaluate applications for Kentucky Proud Promotional
Grants, Van Balen said.
Up to half of future expenses
Van Balen told Agritourism Kentucky the grant
reimburses up to 50 percent of future eligible advertising and
marketing expenses of reaching consumers at the point of
purchase, if it is shown that those efforts promote Kentucky
Proud products with direct Kentucky farm impact.
Applications for the promotional grants are due the last
day of the month and are considered each first Wednesday.
Hard-copy applications (not faxed or emailed) must be
received by KDA at 111 Corporate Drive, Frankfort KY
40601 by the end of the previous month to be considered at
the following committee meeting, Van Balen said.
Grant applicants must be members of the Kentucky
Proud marketing program, he said, which is cost-free.
“Direct Kentucky farm impact” key
The committee looks at whether the applicant can
demonstrate direct Kentucky farm impact based on the dollar
value of what they’re growing and/or producing. “Direct
Kentucky farm impact” means the dollar value of agricultural
products bought, sold, grown, raised, manufactured, or
processed with sources clearly linked to Kentucky farms.
Direct farm impact includes both agricultural products
and ongoing activities. For example, a member applying for
a grant to promote a business which sells Kentucky Proud
products that have direct farm impact can also include the
income generated from a corn maze and farm tours located
on their property, Van Balen said. Further explanation would
May/June 2016
The Kentucky Proud
Promotional Grant
meets half of eligible future marketing,
advertising, and consumer-outreach
expenses (spelled out on the
application), up to 10 percent of the
direct farm impact. Maximum grants
are $12,000 per year and $36,000
Jonathan Van Balen lifetime.
be needed to determine the direct farm impact of a farm that
has added a bed-and-breakfast function.
The applicant spells out future eligible advertising,
marketing, and consumer outreach expenses on the
application. The grant will reimburse up to 50 percent
of those expenses, with a match based on10 percent of
the applicant’s reported direct Kentucky farm impact.
Maximum grant amounts are $12,000 in a 12-month
period, and $36,000 lifetime.
Funds for the promotional grant program come
from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund,
which uses monies from the tobacco Master Settlement
Agreement.
Tell about your facility
On the five-page application, applicants should include
“background about your farm or venue,” emphasizing
community interactions, such as “if it’s a multi-generation
operation, the kinds of activities that take place, the products
you are growing and selling,” Van Balen said, and how you
support and interact with other Kentucky Proud members.
A series of questions relate to the direct Kentucky
farm impact. One question asks an estimate of the dollar
value of the Kentucky agricultural products that will be
advertised, marketed. and promoted by the grant project.
Another inquires whether the applicant would buy, grow,
sell, produce, manufacture, process, or market Kentucky
Proud products even in the absence of the grant. Another
asks for the list of proposed future expenses. Expenses
already incurred are not eligible.
Download the grant application form at www.kyagr.com/
marketing/documents/KYP_GrantApplication.pdf.
More on the grant program: email jonathan.vanbalen @ ky.gov.
To join Kentucky Proud, visit www.kyproud.com.
Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Ryan F. Quarles, Commissioner • Amelia Brown Wilson, Director, Division of Agritourism • (502) 7 82- 4136 • amelia.wilson @ ky.gov
SETBACKS
Everybody has them. Everybody deals with them.
Here’s how three operators responded to theirs.
We wish every agritourism project could meet with the
apparent smooth, uncomplicated success that seems
common to the subjects profiled in this newsletter.
But that’s rarely the case in the real world.
The path to eventual success more often has twists
and detours. Still, revisiting and revising your
situation could yet straighten and smooth the way.
Here are three recent agritourism-related situations in which
unexpected difficulties are being addressed through flexibility.
By Jim Trammel
THE PROBLEM :
Boyle Fiscal Court rejects
farmers’ market proposal
The Boyle Fiscal Court shut down a proposal to locate
the Boyle County Farmers’ Market at Constitution
Square Historic Site, offering instead the use of the
courthouse parking lot, reported the Danville
Advocate-Messenger.
Jennifer Kirchner, executive director of the
Danville-Boyle County Convention and Visitors
Bureau and manager of the county-owned park,
appeared before the fiscal court to seek approval for an
$1,800 license agreement for the market to use the park
on Saturdays from April to October each year, but
she didn’t get the hoped-for quick approval.
FOLLOW UP: Following the rejection by the fiscal
court, a compromise solution was reached primarily
through the efforts of John Wyatt, director of the
Boyle County Farmers’ Market, and Dr. Keith Look,
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Agritourism Kentucky • May-June 2016
superintendent of the Danville Independent School
District. As a result, the Market will now be located on
the campus of Danville High School, just a few blocks
off Danville’s Main Street.
Wyatt said Dr. Look has had experience with
crafting partnerships between schools and farmers’
markets. Plans are evolving for students to work as
interns at the farmers’ markets for academic credit.
“Everybody wanted the farmers’ market to be
downtown,” Wyatt said. “It was just a question of
where.”
THE PROBLEM :
Apathy threatens summer
civic events in Cave City
A town hall meeting in Cave City to discuss upcoming
civic events, including a summer concert series and the
Proud Days Festival, drew fewer than 10 attendees,
prompting discussion of the possible cancellation of the
festival.
Over time, fewer people volunteer to help with
events, and those who have been involved say they need
more assistance, according to a report by Gina Kinslow
of the Glasgow Daily Times.
Robert Smith, city code enforcement officer, said
absent more involvement, the events may have to be
canceled. Mayor Dwayne Hatcher agreed.
The group discussed holding the summer concert
series within walking distance of local hotels instead
of downtown so tourists can walk to the concerts, or
possibly having a concert at the ballpark off Mammoth
Cave Street.
FOLLOW-UP: Over 20 citizens, many members of a
local church, were among the citizens stepping up at the
next month’s meeting after Smith raised his alarm.Paul
Sullivan, chamber president, characterized the situation
for Agritourism Kentucky: “You’ll have five meetings
and the same five people show up every time.”
The cancelled Sept. 16-18 festival would have
marked the annual event’s 20th year, said David
Rowlette, chamber executive director.
The festival, billed as the chamber’s signature event,
drew 60,000 attendance last year, creating the busiest
weekend of the year for Berea restaurants and lodgings.
FOLLOW-UP: Here there seem to be only partial
solutions. Rowlette told AK some festival events can be
“repackaged and repurposed,” and conducted independent
of the traditional 72-hour festival time window.
The 5K run, for example, is connected primarily to
St. Joseph Berea hospital and can be re-set, perhaps for
the weekend before Independence Day.
The chamber has been in touch with the state
adventure tourism group to re-organize activities for
a GeoTour weekend. (GeoTour is an ongoing, phoneassisted nature-based scavenger hunt.)
Vendors who were set for the Spoonbread Festival
will be notified “in a couple of weeks” about alternate
arrangements in which they could participate.
Rowlette especially hopes that the Balloon Glow,
the hot-air balloon launch that was one of the festival’s
most impressive sights, can be re-launched.
But whatever arrangements evolve, the cancellation
represents a potential loss of up to $25,000 in revenue
to the chamber, and as much as $1 million lost in
economic activity for area merchants.
Smith told AK that some citizens “didn’t realize
until they saw the story in the Glasgow paper” that
there was a problem fighting apathy. He said planning
for Proud Days and the allied events are now “on their
way to being out of the woods.”
THE PROBLEM :
Abrupt cancellation halts
Berea Spoonbread Festival
The Berea Chamber of Commerce voted to cancel the
2016 Spoonbread Festival amid concerns over safety
following a controversy over vendor issues and other
conflicts with Berea city government.
Agritourism Kentucky • May-June 2016 •
3
Downtown Henderson Farm & Art Market to open May 25
The Henderson Farmers’ Market expands its services this summer,
offering a downtown “farm and art market” one evening a week.
City officials said the Downtown Henderson Farm & Art
Market will operate from 4-8 p.m. CDT every Wednesday through
Sept. 28, at Audubon Mill Park on the riverfront except June 15,
when it will close for the kickoff of the W.C. Handy Blues and
Barbecue Festival.
Henderson County has two wineries: Farmer & Frenchman,
a winery, vineyard and event venue which has adapted
yesteryear’s tobacco culture to today’s winery concepts; and
Boucherie Winery, located in Spottsville, whose stock is partially
pictured above. Visitors can find these wineries’ products at the
Hendeson Farmers’ Market throughout the summer. (Photo from
Boucherie Winery’s Facebook page)
Downtown Henderson Partnership (DHP)
executive director Laura Peck told AK the new space
will feature more local fresh food, art, music, vendors,
food trucks, and activities of other organizations.
The Farm & Art Market will give farmers’ market
vendors an extra opportunity to sell at a different
location each week. The regular Henderson Farmers’
Market will open May 1 through Oct. 31, operating
Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Central time, at the Cates/Porter Pavilion on the
Henderson County Fairgrounds.
DHP worked with several groups to launch
the Farm & Art Market concept. DHP Assistant
director Sarah Stewart listed the supporting
groups as Henderson County Parks and Programs,
the City of Henderson, the Henderson County
Tourist Commission, and the Henderson Farmers
Market Association.
More: (270) 827-0016; Laura Peck, [email protected], or
Sarah Stewart, [email protected]..
Auburn precinct voters approve alcohol sales at Carriage House
A winery in rural Logan County will be able to move forward with plans to bring
in new customers following the results of a special election March 22, according to
the Bowling Green Daily News. Voters in the Auburn electoral precinct including
Carriage House Vineyards approved sales of alcohol at the winery by a 63-17 margin.
The decisive victory pleased co-owners Don and Lisa Davis, who had been
expanding their vineyard, hoping for legal permission to sell their products onsite.
Logan is a dry county, and the special precinct-wide election was necessary to gain
approval for alcohol sales at the winery. Don Davis told the Daily News he was
grateful for the depth of community support for the winery, expressed in the large
margin of victory.
Carriage House was profiled in a Daily News story reprinted in the October
2015 issue of Agritourism Monthly.
The October 2015 AM profile
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Agritourism Kentucky • May-June 2016
In the next AK: Strategy tips for your winery’s local-option special election.
Permanent structure slated for August opening
New Pikeville FM facility will preserve region’s agricultural heritage
The Pikeville Farmers’ Market will move to a
permanent structure this year, thanks to business
development help from the Kentucky Center for
Agriculture and Rural Development (KCARD) and
a $150,000 grant from the Kentucky Agricultural
Development Board.
To help bring more vendors to the market, the
management decided to open vendor spots to farmers
beyond the county lines. This past year, farmers from
Floyd and Martin counties joined the market family,
and Pinson said there has been interest from farmers in
other surrounding counties.
New facility coming in August
The market will be breaking ground on a new pavilion.
as its area farmers break ground this spring for their
new plantings. The target date to move into their new
pavilion is August 2016.
“This is a collaborative project between the city,
extension, and the market, but it would have never been
possible without the dedication and support that we
received from the staff at KCARD,” said Joyce Pinson,
a farmer and the volunteer market manager. “It didn’t
happen overnight. KCARD has worked with us for
more than two years guiding us through the process to
develop a business plan and write the grant, but it has
been worth the effort.”
“We are a regional hub, and we are excited to
open our market to our neighboring farmers,” said
Pinson. “As we have expanded our growers, we have
also expanded the variety of locally grown products we
offer, which is bringing more customers to the market.”
“The market is growing, and this new structure
will foster that growth by providing a good location, a
permanent structure, and stability,” saidAleta Botts of
KCARD. “However, the real strength of the market
lies in its vendors, the good relationships the leaders
in the market have with the city and Cooperative
Extension, and the support of all those players for
seeing a strong market develop in Pikeville.”
Regional heritage preserved
The Pikeville Farmers’ Market has seen significant
growth in the last few years, with up
to 20 vendors in attendance on market
days. Pinson says one key to the
market’s success is the emergence of
young farmers working to bring back
the regional heritage through their
products.
“We now have a lot of our vendors
in their 30s embracing the heirloom
vegetables of the region, like greasy
beans and cushaw,” Pinson said.
Teaching college students
“It is also fun to have the University of Pikeville
students that are not from the mountains come into the
market,” Pinson said. “They ask about our local foods
like greasy beans or purple dog creek tomatoes, and
we take the time to teach them about our mountain
culture through our food.”
Pinson says the sense of community that has grown
with the market brings people back each week. Pinson
explained the vendors and Cooperative Extension have
worked together to develop special events such as the
Corn Roast, 1950’s Day, the Pig Roast, and the popular
Christmas in July event to build community spirit.
Pinson credits KCARD with helping to end the
frustration of the market using tents that blew away in
the wind and were ineffective shields against frequent
Tuesday-session rains.
“KCARD guided us as we set goals and guidelines,
and saw the potential for market growth in our
region,” Pinson said. “We are grateful
KCARD realized there was potential for
agricultural growth in Pikeville and is
willing to work with our small market.”
Pikeville Farmers’ Market operates from June to
November, with several “soft opening” events
planned for May. Operating hours (Eastern time)
will be 4:30-7:00 p.m. Tuesdays, and 9 a.m.- 1 p.m.
Saturdays. Follow them on Facebook.
For more about KCARD assistance to rural
development, visit www.kcard.info.
— KCARD press release
Cushaws weigh from 7 to 25 pounds.
Agritourism Kentucky • May-June 2016 •
5
KENTUCKY CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Compiled from the listing of county fairs and
ag events posted at the Kentucky Department
of Agriculture website, www.kyagr.com; and
the Kentucky Festivals Schedule page at
ohiofestivals.net.
Events are subject to change or cancellation;
check with site before attending.
M AY
5-7: Spring Fling – Cadiz
5-7: Festival of Flowers – Utica
5-7: Woodson House Garden Festival – Munfordville
6:
Night with Our Patriotic Stars – Cadiz
6-7: Derby Day Festival – Williamstown
7:
Spring Fling: Artists and Crafters on Main Festival and Poker Run – Cadiz
13-14: International Bar-B-Q Festival – Owensboro
13-14: Jazz, Arts and Wine Fest – Newport
13-14: Lower Town Arts and Music Festival – Paducah
13-14: Spring Festival – Mount Washington
14: Ky. Wine & Vine Fest – Nicholasville
14: Mudbugs 4 USO Soirée – Cadiz
14-15: Bluegrass Birding Festival – Lexington
14-15: Ky. Gourd Show – Taylorsville
17-21: Coal Festival – Providence
19-21: Apple Blossom Festival – Elkhorn City
20-21: BBQ Festival – Fountain Run
20-21: Old Louisville Springfest – Louisville
20-22: Moonshiners Ball – Berea
21: Art in the Alley – Greensburg
21: Forest Fest – Fairdale
21: Francisco’s Farm Arts Festival – Midway
21: Jane’s Saddlebag Wine Festival and Art/Craft Show – Big Bone Lick
21: Spring Fest – Glendale
21-22: Ky. Sheep and Fiber Festival – Lexington
22: Buy Local Fair – Louisville
26-29: Ky. Mountain Laurel Festival – Pineville
26-30: Abbey Road on the River – Louisville
27-28: Art in the Park – Versailles
27-28: Salt Works Appalachian Homecoming – Manchester
28-29: Ky. Reggae Festival – Louisville
27-30: Strawberry Festival – Beaver Dam
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Agritourism Kentucky • May-June 2016
May - June 2016
6/4-7/10 (Weekends): Highland Renaissance Festival – Eminence
Email details, with the word
4-11: Russell Co. Jaycees Fair –
Russell Springs
“Event” in the subject line,
to jim trammel @ ky gov.
5:
Taste of Newport
7-11: Muhlenberg Co. Fair – Greenville
28: BBQ, Blues and Bikes – Elizabethtown 9-12: Festival of the Bluegrass – Lexington
28: Mill Springs Annual Cornbread 9-12: ItalianFest – Newport
Festival – Monticello
10-11: Freedom Festival – White Plains
28: Turtle Festival – McKee
10-11: Fort Harrod Beef Festival – 28-29: Spring into Summer Festival –
Harrodsburg
Oak Grove
10-12: Greek Festival – Louisville
11: Beer Cheese Festival – Winchester
JUNE
11: Mighty Kindness Hoot – Louisville
2-4: Capital Expo Festival – Frankfort
11: Stephen Foster Festival – Bardstown
2-4: Heritage Festival – Lewisport
11: Three Forks River Festival – Beattyville
2-4: Poke Sallet Festival – Harlan
11: Uncorked! Wine and Art Festival – 2-4: Sally Gap Bluegrass Festival –
Maysville
Williamsburg
2-5: Great American Brass Band Festival 11: Vet Jam – Glasgow
– Danville
13-18: Boyle Co. Fair – Danville
3-4: Best Bloomin’ Arts and Crafts 13-18: Bullitt Co. Fair – Shepherdsville
Festival – Louisville
13-18: Clinton Co. Fair – Albany
3-4: Bluegrass Festival –Bardstown
13-18: Green Co. Fair – Greensburg
3-4: Bourbon City BBQ Festival – Bardstown
13-18: Murray/Calloway Co. Fair – Murray
3-4: Germantown Schnitzelburg Blues 13-18: Shelby County Fair – Shelbyville
Festival – Louisville
15-18: W.C. Handy Blues and Barbecue 3-4: Mortons Gap Coalfield Festival
Festival – Henderson
3-4: Mountain Memories Festival – 15-19: PlayThink Movement and Flow Arts Frenchburg
Festival – Berea
3-4: Pennington Folk Festival – Princeton 16-18: Holley NHRA National Hot Rod 3-4: Portland Festival – Louisville
Reunion – Bowling Green
3-4: Seedtime on the Cumberland – 16-18: Perry Co. Fair – Hazard
Whitesburg
16-18: Stringbean Memorial Bluegrass 3-4: Summer Fireworks Festival – Ludlow
Festival – Gray Hawk
3-4: Trade Days – Sturgis
17: Kentuckiana Pride Festival – Louisville
3-5: Highland Games – Glasgow
17-18: Ky. Blueberry Festival – Edmonton
3-5: Jefferson Davis Birthday Weekend – 17-18: Summer Festival – Lyndon
Fairview
17-19: MainStrasse Village Original 4:
Americana World Festival – Louisville
Goettafest – Covington
4:
Art in the Garden – Augusta
17-25: Allen Co. Fair – Scottsville
4:
Rods and Ribs BBQ Festival – 17-25: Woodford Co. Fair - Versailles
Central City
18: Bluegrass Senior Dog Rescue 4:
Wine and Cheese Tasting Festival – Barnyard Bash – Georgetown
Bardstown
18: Festival – Crestwood
4-5: Butchertown Art Fair – Louisville
18: Ky. Craft Beer Festival – Elizabethtown
4-5: Great American Art Festival – Danville 18: Lake Cumberland Blues Harbor 4-5: Arts on the Green/Colonial Trade Festival – Jamestown
Faire – LaGrange
18: Classic Car, Truck and Motorcycle 4-8: Nicholas Co. Youth Fair – Carlisle
Cruise-In – Munfordville
How to get your event listed here
.
.
Registration opens May 12 for KFB
Roadside Farm Market 2016 tour
Bourbon tourism has matured
into a huge Kentucky business
Kentucky Farm Bureau (KFB) announces the Roadside
Farm Market Tour, set for June 27-30 to markets in
Indiana and Michigan, announces Fran McCall, KFB
Certified Roadside Farm Market coordinator.
“This is a great opportunity for members to tour
successful roadside farm markets, agribusinesses, and
more,” McCall said.
Last year, nearly 900,000 guests visited the Kentucky
Bourbon Trail and Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft
Tour as bourbon tourism remained on a record-setting
pace, according to the Kentucky Distillers’ Association.
Bourbon tourists, on average, spend $1,000 on their
trip, according to a study by the University of Louisville.
The study said more than 85 percent of visitors are from
outside the Commonwealth. Eric Gregory, Kentucky
Distillers’ Association president, has predicted the tours
will serve a million visitors this year.
“The tour is a unique opportunity to visit
operations with successful farm marketing programs
and to learn different types of promotion strategies that
may be useful on your farm,” she said.
The state’s bourbon sector is in the midst of a $1.3
billion investment boom, Gregory said. The expansion
Tour registrations will be accepted until the roster
includes new and expanded distilleries, warehouses,
is full. Signups begin Thursday, May 12 at 10 a.m. EDT, bottling operations and tourism centers.
McCall said.
More:: Fran McCall, (502) 495-5000, ext. 7238 or [email protected].
More: http://kybourbon.com/kentucky-bourbon-trailvisits-skyrocket-with-900000-guests-in-2015/
— Kentucky Farm Bureau press release
— Kentucky Distillers’ Association press release
CALENDAR (continued)
J U N E (continued)
18: RoeblingFest – Covington
18: Well Crafted – Harrodsburg
18-25: Lawrenceburg Fair
20-25: Bourbon Co. Fair – Paris
20-25: Gallatin Co. Fair – Glencoe
20-25: McCracken Co. Fair – Paducah
20-25: Union Co. Fair – Sturgis
21-25: Rudy Fest – Grayson
22-25: Gallatin Co. Fair – Glencoe
22-25: ROMP Fest – Owensboro
22-25: Gallatin Co. Fair – Glencoe
22-25: McCreary County Fair – Whitley City
25: Blueberry Jubilee and Pancake Day – Paris
25: Dixie Music Festival – London
25: Pride Festival – Lexington
25-26: Bluegrass Lacrosse Festival – Louisville
25-7/2:Adair Co. Fair – Columbia
25-7/2:Casey Co. Fair – Liberty
25-7/2:Clark Co. Fair – Winchester
27-7/2:Garrard Co. Fair – Lancaster
28-7/2:Scott Co. Kiwanis Fair – Georgetown
Chrisman Mill stores move to Lexington’s Fayette Mall
Chrisman Mill Vineyard’s two stores have combined and moved into a
new location at Lexington’s Fayette Mall, according to a report from the
Lexington Herald-Leader. The move took place last Sunday, May 1.
The Nicholasville-based winery has closed its location at 2213
Lexington Road, Nicholasville. The Lexington store at 2308 Sir Barton
Way, Suite 190, will close May 22. the report said.
More: www.kentucky.com/living/article64717172.html
Send your agritourism news
to your state newsletter!
The next Agritourism Kentucky,
in which you can publicize your
July and August agritourism events,
comes out Monday, June 27 ‒
just in time for Independence Day
activities. Copy deadline is
Monday, June 20.
Agritourism Kentucky
A KENTUCKY AGRITOURISM INDUSTRY MANAGEMENT NEWSLETTER
Published by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Division of Agritourism.
Agritourism Kentucky • May-June 2016 •
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