Prepare to pack your bags and join our classroom on wheels. The 2010 Agritourism in Action Tour will include visits to agritourism operations in Kentucky and Ohio on November 16-18.

• Oakes Farm, Corryton, TN
• Acres of Land Winery, Richmond, KY
• Bonnybrook Farms, Clarksville, OH
• Niederman Family Farm, Hamilton, OH
• Jungle Jim's, Fairfield, OH
• Barn-N-Bunk Farm Market, Trenton, OH
• Evans Orchard and Cider Mill, Georgetown, KY
• Boyds Orchard, Versailles, KY

The tour is being offered by the University of Tennessee Center for Profitable Agriculture and is funded, in part, by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Pamela Bartholomew, Agritourism Coordinator for the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, has indicated that this tour will count as an option for one of the educational requirements for agritourism operators to receive the 50% level of Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP) Producer Diversification Cost Share.

What to Expect:
The tour provides an educational opportunity for agritourism entrepreneurs to visit operations and hear from other enterprise owners firsthand. Visits to eight operations are tentatively planned. Facilitated discussion and activities as well as networking time will be conducted on the bus to help delegates get the most from the experience. Participants should expect long days with extended periods of sitting while traveling and walking and standing while touring. The bus will hold as many as 55 passengers in relatively tight quarters.

Space is limited and an application process is necessary to select delegates.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Applicants must be operators of an existing Tennessee agritourism enterprise or Tennessee farmers in process of starting a new agritourism enterprise.
• Up to two people per enterprise may apply.

Tour Dates and Times:
Tentatively, the tour will begin at 9:30 am on Tuesday, November 16 and end at 6:30 pm on Thursday, November 18.

Start/End Location: 
Oakes Farm, Corryton, TN (north of Knoxville)

Registration Fee: 
$225 (double occupancy hotel) or $325 (single occupancy hotel—limited availability)

• The registration fee is to be submitted upon notification of selection – not with application.
• The registration fee is an eligible expense for cost-share reimbursement under the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program (TAEP) with an approved TAEP Producer Diversification Cost-Share Application.
• The registration fee includes transportation, hotel for the nights of November 16 and 17, meals, refreshments, educational tours and materials during the event.
• Participants are responsible for their own travel arrangements and expenses to and from the starting location and any incidental expenses.

Application Process Timeline:

• Application Deadline: Applications must be RECEIVED by August 15, 2010
• Applicants Notified of Selection: September 5, 2010 (Tentative)
• Delegate Confirmation and Registration Fee Deadline: September 30, 2010 (Tentative)
• Final Information Sent to Delegates: October 20, 2010 (Tentative)

Application Details and Application and Special Requests Forms

Questions?
Contact Megan Bruch at mlbruch@utk.edu or (931) 486-2777