FRANKFORT, Ky. — While it may be the winter season, the state’s agritourism industry is still in full swing as more and more consumers look to local goods to enjoy for themselves or give as gifts.

Farm destinations across the state offer a variety of products created on site, and customers are flocking to those places to get them. Right now, the many Christmas tree farms located across the state are a hot item.

This is just an example of how farmers have turned their farming operations into tourism destinations.

For those looking to get into such operations or transform their current farm into something more, the Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development (KCARD) is partnering with Kentucky Farm Bureau (KFB) and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) to host an agritourism workshop Dec. 15 at Nolin RECC Building in Elizabethtown, Ky.

“Agritourism operations in Kentucky continue to expand, and this growth has brought about new challenges for the operators,” said Aleta Botts, KCARD executive director. “This workshop will provide agribusinesses a chance to have their business development questions answered and think strategically about their agritourism operation for the future.”

KCARD works with rural businesses and agribusinesses across the state providing services that include strategic planning, business management, operations analysis, recordkeeping development, cost analysis and on-site business consultations.

KCARD Business Development assistant Kati Miller said there were 651 farms in Kentucky considered to be agritourism operations, as of the 2012 U.S. Census. That number represents a 52 percent increase over the number of agritourism farms present in 2007.

“The ones in 2007 were valued around $3 million, while those in 2012 were valued at over $7 million,” she said. “It’s really picked up in Kentucky and doing well.”

Miller added that this workshop will touch on the different aspects of agritourism and the challenges some may face in wanting to start an operation or those wanting to take another look at their present day agritourism venture. 

Joe Cain, KFB Commodity Division director, said that organization’s main objective is to help new agritourism businesses understand all the dynamics that go into launching successfully in this market.

“We want to provide them with facts and figures that will help their decision-making as they launch,” he said. “Our involvement is designed to make them aware of various insurance products they need to consider; to connect them to supporting organizations that can assist their marketing efforts; to identify labor and regulatory items that require their attention; and even to share information about grants that may be available to aid their business plan.”

According to information provided by KCARD, the workshop will bring together a variety of speakers based on their experience with marketing, business development, grant and loan funding, and regulatory issues. 

There will also be a representative to speak on the Americans with Disabilities Act and how it pertains to agritourism operations.

Amelia Wilson, the KDA director of the Division of Agritourism, said the agritourism business in Kentucky, while growing for some time, has seen a huge growth during the past year.

“A lot of people are so far removed from the family farm, I think a lot of agritourism operators are trying to get people to come back to see where their food comes from, take advantage of shopping and put their money back into Kentucky,” she said. 

Wilson added that the workshop will serve to help those with questions about their agritourism business and those just interested in becoming involved in the industry. 

To sign up for the agritourism workshop, contact Kati Miller at 270-763-8258 or via email at kmiller@kcard .info and to learn more about KCARD, visit www.kcard.info