By TESA NAUMAN
Tennessee Correspondent

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Learning six foolproof steps to ensure agritourism employees are top performers is among the topics discussed during the fifth Tennessee Agritourism Cultivating Farm Revenue Conference, Jan. 28-30, at the Nashville Airport Marriott.

“This year’s conference offers agritourism operators another prime opportunity for professional development through educational sessions and networking,” said Megan Bruch, marketing specialist with the University of Tennessee Center for Profitable Agriculture.
This is the first time the conference will be held in conjunction with the Tennessee Horticultural Expo, which gives conference goers added information, according to Bruch.

“By being held concurrently with the Horticultural Expo, agritourism operators will also have access to sessions on fruit and vegetable production, issues related to grapes and wine, flower production, farmers’ markets and more,” she said.

Agritourism in Action sessions, a popular feature of past conferences, returns this year featuring agritourism operators who will share the knowledge they’ve gained from their experiences.
“Panels of operators will discuss innovative farm tours and creative farm animal attractions and will answer questions from conference participants,” Bruch said. “Additional conference sessions will address labor regulations, business structures, USDA Animal Exhibitor Regulations and the new agritourism liability law.”

Among speakers at the conference is Bob Negen, a best-selling author and business consultant, who will share his customer-focused business philosophies to help participants Explode Sales and Develop a WhizBang! Staff. His practical and motivational sessions will help participants bring more people to their business, provide them with better service and increase revenue. He also will discuss his “fool-proof” six-step process for getting the best employees.

The agritourism conference is sponsored by the Tennessee Agritourism Initiative partners including the Tennessee Departments of Agriculture, Tourist Development and Economic and Community Development; University of Tennessee Extension; Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation; and the Tennessee Agritourism Assoc.

Register for the conference by Jan. 5 to receive the early registration rate of $100. Late registration is $125.
To register for the conference, visit the Center for Profitable Agriculture’s website at http://cpa.utk.edu