By STAN MADDUX

Indiana Correspondent

NOBLESVILLE, Ind. — Indiana and its push for agritourism to become a driving force in the state’s economy is reaping dividends, as what some in the hospitality industry bill as the nation’s foremost agritourism convention was announced to be coming here in 2019.

The six-day convention by the Northern American Farmers’ Direct Marketing Assoc., Inc. (NAFDMA) is scheduled for Feb. 1-7, 2019, at Noblesville, and Fair Oaks Farms expects some of the NAFDMA members to make the two-hour drive north to one of the country’s premier agritourism destinations along Interstate 65.

Extra visitors means more word spreading about what’s offered here and statewide, then others wanting to come see for themselves, said Susan Webb, executive assistant at Fair Oaks, a self-sustaining farm run entirely on cow and pig manure.

 “That is something that we welcome. Big conventions like that coming into Indiana and seeing what the state is doing here and what we’re doing here,” she explained.

Fair Oaks is not just one of the nation’s largest milk producers, but more than 600,000 visitors go there annually to take part in many farm-related fun and educational activities such as the dairy, pig and crop “adventures.” There’s also the 265-seat Farmhouse Restaurant and a 99-room Marriott hotel that started going up nearby just over a month ago.

The convention will consist of educational sessions, workshops, a business exchange and farm tours across the state. Mark Newman, executive director of the Indiana Office of Tourism and Development (IOTD), said a visit to the NAFDMA 2016 convention followed by extensive talks with his staff and board members showed Indiana was a great fit for the convention.

“Activities that bring authentic local flavor experiences and working landscape experiences to consumers are important to both of us,” he noted.

NAFDMA based in Southampton, Mass., was founded in 1986. According to its website, the not-for-profit organization is dedicated to advancing farm direct marketing and the agritourism industry. Conventions are for members to share ideas and get help in other ways for marketing and growing their businesses.

The membership consists of U-pick fruit and vegetable farms, wineries, farmers’ markets, destination dairies and other venues like tree farms. Its 33rd annual convention is scheduled Feb. 1-7, 2018, in Los Angeles.

Brenda Myers, president/CEO of Hamilton County Tourism, said the decision by NAFDMA to come to Indiana shows what a player the state has become in agritourism.

“Central Indiana is home to a number of agriculturally-themed attractions that pay tribute to our state’s heritage. We are thrilled this prestigious group will bring some of the nation’s biggest and best agritourism operators to the state for sharing,” she said.

This year’s convention in Mystic, Conn., drew more than 400 people.

“Our agritourism destinations continue to bring together farmers and countless families across the U.S., and having his convention in Indiana not only allows us to showcase these operations, but also discover new ways to grow this important sector of our rural economy,” said Melissa Rekeweg, the Indiana State Department of Agriculture’s interim director.

According to ISDA, Indiana has more than 300 farms engaging in some form of agritourism.

The announcement comes just after the launch of the Indiana Culinary and Agritourism Strategy. ICAS was developed by the IOTD and ISDA to further culinary tourism and agritourism as an economic driver for the state.