News Release Distributed 09/27/10
The LSU AgCenter will host a natural resource enterprises workshop Tuesday, Nov. 9, at Curry Farms in Rayville.
Natural resource enterprises include agritourism, trail riding, fee hunting and fishing, and bed and breakfasts.
“Agriculture settings that provide entertainment and learning are in demand,” said Dora Ann Hatch, LSU AgCenter agritourism coordinator. “Today’s tourists are adventuresome and want to have an ‘experience’ when they travel. Agritourism offers that experience. Agritourism not only diversifies the family farm, but it enhances rural tourism.”
Workshop participants will learn business and agritourism basics from expert speakers in an in-field session. Morning presentations will include economics of enterprises, liability and legal considerations and business management.
An afternoon field trip at Curry Farms will include information on Christmas tree production, pumpkin patches and corn mazes.
The final session will feature MarketMaker, a free online tool for Louisiana producers, businesses and consumers offered through the LSU AgCenter.
The event will begin at 8 a.m. and conclude at 4 p.m. Cost is $25 and includes lunch, breaks and materials. Registration can be found on the Internet at www.lsuagcenter.com/agritourism.
Other sponsors are Mississippi State University’s Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Mississippi State University,
Mississippi State University Extension Service, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Walton Family Foundation.
Mary Ann Van Osdell