A KENTUCKY AGRITOURISM INDUSTRY MANAGEMENT NEWSLETTER May/June 2016

Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Ryan F. Quarles, Commissioner • Amelia Brown Wilson, Director, Division of Agritourism • (502) 782- 4136 • amelia.wilson@ky.gov

The Kentucky Proud Promotional Grant meets half of eligible future marketing, advertising, and consumer-outreach expenses (spelled out on the application), up to 10 percent of the direct farm impact. Maximum grants are $12,000 per year and $36,000 lifetime.

Agritourism Kentucky

Jonathan Van Balen

Applications processed every monthGrants help promote farm impactof your Kentucky Proud products

By Jim Trammel Up to $12,000 per year in grant funding is available to your Kentucky agritourism operation if you will describe how your plan will add value to Kentucky farms, said Jonathan Van Balen of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA).

A committee meets the first Wednesday of every month to evaluate applications for Kentucky Proud Promotional Grants, Van Balen said.

Up to half of future expenses

Van Balen told Agritourism Kentucky the grant reimburses up to 50 percent of future eligible advertising and marketing expenses of reaching consumers at the point of purchase, if it is shown that those efforts promote Kentucky Proud products with direct Kentucky farm impact.

Applications for the promotional grants are due the last day of the month and are considered each first Wednesday.

Hard-copy applications (not faxed or emailed) must be received by KDA at 111 Corporate Drive, Frankfort KY 40601 by the end of the previous month to be considered at the following committee meeting, Van Balen said.

Grant applicants must be members of the Kentucky Proud marketing program, he said, which is cost-free.

“Direct Kentucky farm impact” key

The committee looks at whether the applicant can demonstrate direct Kentucky farm impact based on the dollar value of what they’re growing and/or producing. “Direct Kentucky farm impact” means the dollar value of agricultural products bought, sold, grown, raised, manufactured, or processed with sources clearly linked to Kentucky farms.

Direct farm impact includes both agricultural products and ongoing activities. For example, a member applying for a grant to promote a business which sells Kentucky Proud products that have direct farm impact can also include the income generated from a corn maze and farm tours located on their property, Van Balen said. Further explanation would

be needed to determine the direct farm impact of a farm that has added a bed-and-breakfast function.

The applicant spells out future eligible advertising, marketing, and consumer outreach expenses on the application. The grant will reimburse up to 50 percent of those expenses, with a match based on10 percent of the applicant’s reported direct Kentucky farm impact. Maximum grant amounts are $12,000 in a 12-month period, and $36,000 lifetime.

Funds for the promotional grant program come from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund, which uses monies from the tobacco Master Settlement Agreement.

Tell about your facility

On the five-page application, applicants should include “background about your farm or venue,” emphasizing community interactions, such as “if it’s a multi-generation operation, the kinds of activities that take place, the products you are growing and selling,” Van Balen said, and how you support and interact with other Kentucky Proud members.

A series of questions relate to the direct Kentucky farm impact. One question asks an estimate of the dollar value of the Kentucky agricultural products that will be advertised, marketed. and promoted by the grant project. Another inquires whether the applicant would buy, grow, sell, produce, manufacture, process, or market Kentucky Proud products even in the absence of the grant. Another asks for the list of proposed future expenses. Expenses already incurred are not eligible.

Download the grant application form at www.kyagr.com/marketing/documents/KYP_GrantApplication.pdf.

More on the grant program: email jonathan.vanbalen@ ky.gov. To join Kentucky Proud, visit www.kyproud.com.

2 • Agritourism Kentucky • May-June 2016

THE PROBLEM :

Boyle Fiscal Court rejects farmers’ market proposal

The Boyle Fiscal Court shut down a proposal to locate the Boyle County Farmers’ Market at Constitution Square Historic Site, offering instead the use of the courthouse parking lot, reported the Danville Advocate-Messenger.

Jennifer Kirchner, executive director of the Danville-Boyle County Convention and Visitors Bureau and manager of the county-owned park, appeared before the fiscal court to seek approval for an $1,800 license agreement for the market to use the park on Saturdays from April to October each year, but she didn’t get the hoped-for quick approval.

FOLLOW UP: Following the rejection by the fiscal court, a compromise solution was reached primarily through the efforts of John Wyatt, director of the Boyle County Farmers’ Market, and Dr. Keith Look,

SETBACKSEverybody has them. Everybody deals with them.Here’s how three operators responded to theirs.

We wish every agritourism project could meet with the apparent smooth, uncomplicated success that seems common to the subjects profiled in this newsletter. But that’s rarely the case in the real world.

The path to eventual success more often has twists and detours. Still, revisiting and revising your situation could yet straighten and smooth the way.

Here are three recent agritourism-related situations in which unexpected difficulties are being addressed through flexibility.

superintendent of the Danville Independent School District. As a result, the Market will now be located on the campus of Danville High School, just a few blocks off Danville’s Main Street.

Wyatt said Dr. Look has had experience with crafting partnerships between schools and farmers’ markets. Plans are evolving for students to work as interns at the farmers’ markets for academic credit. “Everybody wanted the farmers’ market to be downtown,” Wyatt said. “It was just a question of where.”

By Jim Trammel

Agritourism Kentucky • May-June 2016 • 3

THE PROBLEM :

Apathy threatens summer civic events in Cave City

A town hall meeting in Cave City to discuss upcoming civic events, including a summer concert series and the Proud Days Festival, drew fewer than 10 attendees, prompting discussion of the possible cancellation of the festival.

Over time, fewer people volunteer to help with events, and those who have been involved say they need more assistance, according to a report by Gina Kinslow of the Glasgow Daily Times.

Robert Smith, city code enforcement officer, said absent more involvement, the events may have to be canceled. Mayor Dwayne Hatcher agreed.

The group discussed holding the summer concert series within walking distance of local hotels instead of downtown so tourists can walk to the concerts, or possibly having a concert at the ballpark off Mammoth Cave Street.

FOLLOW-UP: Over 20 citizens, many members of a local church, were among the citizens stepping up at the next month’s meeting after Smith raised his alarm.Paul Sullivan, chamber president, characterized the situation for Agritourism Kentucky: “You’ll have five meetings and the same five people show up every time.”

Smith told AK that some citizens “didn’t realize until they saw the story in the Glasgow paper” that there was a problem fighting apathy. He said planning for Proud Days and the allied events are now “on their way to being out of the woods.” THE PROBLEM :

Abrupt cancellation halts Berea Spoonbread Festival

The Berea Chamber of Commerce voted to cancel the 2016 Spoonbread Festival amid concerns over safety following a controversy over vendor issues and other conflicts with Berea city government.

The cancelled Sept. 16-18 festival would have marked the annual event’s 20th year, said David Rowlette, chamber executive director.

The festival, billed as the chamber’s signature event, drew 60,000 attendance last year, creating the busiest weekend of the year for Berea restaurants and lodgings.

FOLLOW-UP: Here there seem to be only partial solutions. Rowlette told AK some festival events can be “repackaged and repurposed,” and conducted independent of the traditional 72-hour festival time window.

The 5K run, for example, is connected primarily to St. Joseph Berea hospital and can be re-set, perhaps for the weekend before Independence Day.

The chamber has been in touch with the state adventure tourism group to re-organize activities for a GeoTour weekend. (GeoTour is an ongoing, phone-assisted nature-based scavenger hunt.)

Vendors who were set for the Spoonbread Festival will be notified “in a couple of weeks” about alternate arrangements in which they could participate.

Rowlette especially hopes that the Balloon Glow, the hot-air balloon launch that was one of the festival’s most impressive sights, can be re-launched.

But whatever arrangements evolve, the cancellation represents a potential loss of up to $25,000 in revenue to the chamber, and as much as $1 million lost in economic activity for area merchants.

4 • Agritourism Kentucky • May-June 2016

A winery in rural Logan County will be able to move forward with plans to bring in new customers following the results of a special election March 22, according to the Bowling Green Daily News. Voters in the Auburn electoral precinct including Carriage House Vineyards approved sales of alcohol at the winery by a 63-17 margin.

The decisive victory pleased co-owners Don and Lisa Davis, who had been expanding their vineyard, hoping for legal permission to sell their products onsite. Logan is a dry county, and the special precinct-wide election was necessary to gain approval for alcohol sales at the winery. Don Davis told the Daily News he was grateful for the depth of community support for the winery, expressed in the large margin of victory.

Carriage House was profiled in a Daily News story reprinted in the October 2015 issue of Agritourism Monthly.

In the next AK: Strategy tips for your winery’s local-option special election.

Auburn precinct voters approve alcohol sales at Carriage House

The October 2015 AM profile

The Henderson Farmers’ Market expands its services this summer, offering a downtown “farm and art market” one evening a week.

City officials said the Downtown Henderson Farm & Art Market will operate from 4-8 p.m. CDT every Wednesday through Sept. 28, at Audubon Mill Park on the riverfront except June 15, when it will close for the kickoff of the W.C. Handy Blues and Barbecue Festival.

Downtown Henderson Farm & Art Market to open May 25

Downtown Henderson Partnership (DHP) executive director Laura Peck told AK the new space will feature more local fresh food, art, music, vendors, food trucks, and activities of other organizations.

The Farm & Art Market will give farmers’ market vendors an extra opportunity to sell at a different location each week. The regular Henderson Farmers’ Market will open May 1 through Oct. 31, operating Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time, at the Cates/Porter Pavilion on the Henderson County Fairgrounds.

DHP worked with several groups to launch the Farm & Art Market concept. DHP Assistant director Sarah Stewart listed the supporting groups as Henderson County Parks and Programs, the City of Henderson, the Henderson County Tourist Commission, and the Henderson Farmers Market Association.

More: (270) 827-0016; Laura Peck, laura@downtownhenderson.org, or Sarah Stewart, sarah@downtownhenderson.org..

Henderson County has two wineries: Farmer & Frenchman, a winery, vineyard and event venue which has adapted yesteryear’s tobacco culture to today’s winery concepts; and Boucherie Winery, located in Spottsville, whose stock is partially pictured above. Visitors can find these wineries’ products at the Hendeson Farmers’ Market throughout the summer. (Photo from Boucherie Winery’s Facebook page)

Agritourism Kentucky • May-June 2016 • 5

To help bring more vendors to the market, the management decided to open vendor spots to farmers beyond the county lines. This past year, farmers from Floyd and Martin counties joined the market family, and Pinson said there has been interest from farmers in other surrounding counties.

“We are a regional hub, and we are excited to open our market to our neighboring farmers,” said Pinson. “As we have expanded our growers, we have also expanded the variety of locally grown products we offer, which is bringing more customers to the market.”

Teaching college students

“It is also fun to have the University of Pikeville students that are not from the mountains come into the market,” Pinson said. “They ask about our local foods like greasy beans or purple dog creek tomatoes, and we take the time to teach them about our mountain culture through our food.”

Pinson says the sense of community that has grown with the market brings people back each week. Pinson explained the vendors and Cooperative Extension have worked together to develop special events such as the Corn Roast, 1950’s Day, the Pig Roast, and the popular Christmas in July event to build community spirit.

Pinson credits KCARD with helping to end the frustration of the market using tents that blew away in the wind and were ineffective shields against frequent Tuesday-session rains.

“KCARD guided us as we set goals and guidelines, and saw the potential for market growth in our

region,” Pinson said. “We are grateful KCARD realized there was potential for agricultural growth in Pikeville and is willing to work with our small market.”

Pikeville Farmers’ Market operates from June to November, with several “soft opening” events

planned for May. Operating hours (Eastern time) will be 4:30-7:00 p.m. Tuesdays, and 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Saturdays. Follow them on Facebook.For more about KCARD assistance to rural

development, visit www.kcard.info.

— KCARD press release

Permanent structure slated for August openingNew Pikeville FM facility will preserve region’s agricultural heritageThe Pikeville Farmers’ Market will move to a permanent structure this year, thanks to business development help from the Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development (KCARD) and a $150,000 grant from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board.

New facility coming in August

The market will be breaking ground on a new pavilion. as its area farmers break ground this spring for their new plantings. The target date to move into their new pavilion is August 2016.

“This is a collaborative project between the city, extension, and the market, but it would have never been possible without the dedication and support that we received from the staff at KCARD,” said Joyce Pinson, a farmer and the volunteer market manager. “It didn’t happen overnight. KCARD has worked with us for more than two years guiding us through the process to develop a business plan and write the grant, but it has been worth the effort.”

“The market is growing, and this new structure will foster that growth by providing a good location, a permanent structure, and stability,” saidAleta Botts of KCARD. “However, the real strength of the market lies in its vendors, the good relationships the leaders in the market have with the city and Cooperative Extension, and the support of all those players for seeing a strong market develop in Pikeville.”

Regional heritage preserved

The Pikeville Farmers’ Market has seen significant growth in the last few years, with up to 20 vendors in attendance on market days. Pinson says one key to the market’s success is the emergence of young farmers working to bring back the regional heritage through their products.

“We now have a lot of our vendors in their 30s embracing the heirloom vegetables of the region, like greasy beans and cushaw,” Pinson said.

Cushaws weigh from 7 to 25 pounds.

6 • Agritourism Kentucky • May-June 2016

KENTUCKY CALENDAR OF EVENTS May - June 2016

How to get your event listed hereEmail details, with the word “Event” in the subject line, to j im. trammel@ky.gov.

Compiled from the listing of county fairs and ag events posted at the Kentucky Department of Agriculture website, www.kyagr.com; and the Kentucky Festivals Schedule page at ohiofestivals.net.Events are subject to change or cancellation; check with site before attending.

MAY

5-7: Spring Fling – Cadiz 5-7: Festival of Flowers – Utica5-7: Woodson House Garden Festival –

Munfordville6: Night with Our Patriotic Stars – Cadiz 6-7: Derby Day Festival – Williamstown7: Spring Fling: Artists and Crafters on

Main Festival and Poker Run – Cadiz 13-14: International Bar-B-Q Festival –

Owensboro13-14: Jazz, Arts and Wine Fest – Newport 13-14: Lower Town Arts and Music Festival

– Paducah13-14: Spring Festival – Mount Washington14: Ky. Wine & Vine Fest – Nicholasville14: Mudbugs 4 USO Soirée – Cadiz 14-15: Bluegrass Birding Festival – Lexington14-15: Ky. Gourd Show – Taylorsville17-21: Coal Festival – Providence19-21: Apple Blossom Festival – Elkhorn City20-21: BBQ Festival – Fountain Run 20-21: Old Louisville Springfest – Louisville20-22: Moonshiners Ball – Berea21: Art in the Alley – Greensburg 21: Forest Fest – Fairdale21: Francisco’s Farm Arts Festival –

Midway21: Jane’s Saddlebag Wine Festival and

Art/Craft Show – Big Bone Lick21: Spring Fest – Glendale 21-22: Ky. Sheep and Fiber Festival –

Lexington22: Buy Local Fair – Louisville26-29: Ky. Mountain Laurel Festival – Pineville26-30: Abbey Road on the River – Louisville27-28: Art in the Park – Versailles27-28: Salt Works Appalachian

Homecoming – Manchester28-29: Ky. Reggae Festival – Louisville27-30: Strawberry Festival – Beaver Dam

28: BBQ, Blues and Bikes – Elizabethtown 28: Mill Springs Annual Cornbread

Festival – Monticello28: Turtle Festival – McKee28-29: Spring into Summer Festival –

Oak Grove

JUNE

2-4: Capital Expo Festival – Frankfort 2-4: Heritage Festival – Lewisport2-4: Poke Sallet Festival – Harlan2-4: Sally Gap Bluegrass Festival –

Williamsburg2-5: Great American Brass Band Festival

– Danville3-4: Best Bloomin’ Arts and Crafts

Festival – Louisville3-4: Bluegrass Festival –Bardstown 3-4: Bourbon City BBQ Festival – Bardstown 3-4: Germantown Schnitzelburg Blues

Festival – Louisville 3-4: Mortons Gap Coalfield Festival 3-4: Mountain Memories Festival –

Frenchburg3-4: Pennington Folk Festival – Princeton 3-4: Portland Festival – Louisville 3-4: Seedtime on the Cumberland –

Whitesburg3-4: Summer Fireworks Festival – Ludlow 3-4: Trade Days – Sturgis3-5: Highland Games – Glasgow3-5: Jefferson Davis Birthday Weekend –

Fairview4: Americana World Festival – Louisville4: Art in the Garden – Augusta4: Rods and Ribs BBQ Festival –

Central City4: Wine and Cheese Tasting Festival –

Bardstown4-5: Butchertown Art Fair – Louisville4-5: Great American Art Festival – Danville4-5: Arts on the Green/Colonial Trade

Faire – LaGrange4-8: Nicholas Co. Youth Fair – Carlisle

6/4-7/10 (Weekends): Highland Renaissance Festival – Eminence

4-11: Russell Co. Jaycees Fair – Russell Springs

5: Taste of Newport7-11: Muhlenberg Co. Fair – Greenville9-12: Festival of the Bluegrass – Lexington9-12: ItalianFest – Newport10-11: Freedom Festival – White Plains10-11: Fort Harrod Beef Festival –

Harrodsburg10-12: Greek Festival – Louisville11: Beer Cheese Festival – Winchester 11: Mighty Kindness Hoot – Louisville11: Stephen Foster Festival – Bardstown 11: Three Forks River Festival – Beattyville11: Uncorked! Wine and Art Festival –

Maysville11: Vet Jam – Glasgow13-18: Boyle Co. Fair – Danville 13-18: Bullitt Co. Fair – Shepherdsville13-18: Clinton Co. Fair – Albany13-18: Green Co. Fair – Greensburg13-18: Murray/Calloway Co. Fair – Murray13-18: Shelby County Fair – Shelbyville15-18: W.C. Handy Blues and Barbecue

Festival – Henderson15-19: PlayThink Movement and Flow Arts

Festival – Berea16-18: Holley NHRA National Hot Rod

Reunion – Bowling Green16-18: Perry Co. Fair – Hazard 16-18: Stringbean Memorial Bluegrass

Festival – Gray Hawk17: Kentuckiana Pride Festival – Louisville17-18: Ky. Blueberry Festival – Edmonton17-18: Summer Festival – Lyndon17-19: MainStrasse Village Original

Goettafest – Covington17-25: Allen Co. Fair – Scottsville17-25: Woodford Co. Fair - Versailles18: Bluegrass Senior Dog Rescue

Barnyard Bash – Georgetown18: Festival – Crestwood18: Ky. Craft Beer Festival – Elizabethtown18: Lake Cumberland Blues Harbor

Festival – Jamestown18: Classic Car, Truck and Motorcycle

Cruise-In – Munfordville

Agritourism Kentucky • May-June 2016 • 7

CALENDAR (continued) JUNE (continued)

18: RoeblingFest – Covington18: Well Crafted – Harrodsburg18-25: Lawrenceburg Fair 20-25: Bourbon Co. Fair – Paris 20-25: Gallatin Co. Fair – Glencoe20-25: McCracken Co. Fair – Paducah20-25: Union Co. Fair – Sturgis21-25: Rudy Fest – Grayson22-25: Gallatin Co. Fair – Glencoe 22-25: ROMP Fest – Owensboro22-25: Gallatin Co. Fair – Glencoe22-25: McCreary County Fair – Whitley City25: Blueberry Jubilee and Pancake Day

– Paris 25: Dixie Music Festival – London25: Pride Festival – Lexington25-26: Bluegrass Lacrosse Festival –

Louisville25-7/2: Adair Co. Fair – Columbia 25-7/2: Casey Co. Fair – Liberty25-7/2: Clark Co. Fair – Winchester27-7/2: Garrard Co. Fair – Lancaster 28-7/2: Scott Co. Kiwanis Fair – Georgetown

Registration opens May 12 for KFBRoadside Farm Market 2016 tourKentucky Farm Bureau (KFB) announces the Roadside Farm Market Tour, set for June 27-30 to markets in Indiana and Michigan, announces Fran McCall, KFB Certified Roadside Farm Market coordinator.

“This is a great opportunity for members to tour successful roadside farm markets, agribusinesses, and more,” McCall said.

“The tour is a unique opportunity to visit operations with successful farm marketing programs and to learn different types of promotion strategies that may be useful on your farm,” she said.

Tour registrations will be accepted until the roster is full. Signups begin Thursday, May 12 at 10 a.m. EDT, McCall said.

More:: Fran McCall, (502) 495-5000, ext. 7238 or Fran.McCall@kyfb.com.

— Kentucky Farm Bureau press release

Bourbon tourism has matured into a huge Kentucky businessLast year, nearly 900,000 guests visited the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour as bourbon tourism remained on a record-setting pace, according to the Kentucky Distillers’ Association.

Bourbon tourists, on average, spend $1,000 on their trip, according to a study by the University of Louisville. The study said more than 85 percent of visitors are from outside the Commonwealth. Eric Gregory, Kentucky Distillers’ Association president, has predicted the tours will serve a million visitors this year.

The state’s bourbon sector is in the midst of a $1.3 billion investment boom, Gregory said. The expansion includes new and expanded distilleries, warehouses, bottling operations and tourism centers.

More: http://kybourbon.com/kentucky-bourbon-trail- visits-skyrocket-with-900000-guests-in-2015/

— Kentucky Distillers’ Association press release

Send your agritourism newsto your state newsletter!The next Agritourism Kentucky, in which you can publicize your July and August agritourism events, comes out Monday, June 27 ‒ just in time for Independence Day activities. Copy deadline is Monday, June 20.

A KENTUCKY AGRITOURISM INDUSTRY MANAGEMENT NEWSLETTERPublished by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Division of Agritourism.

Agritourism Kentucky

Chrisman Mill stores move to Lexington’s Fayette MallChrisman Mill Vineyard’s two stores have combined and moved into a new location at Lexington’s Fayette Mall, according to a report from the Lexington Herald-Leader. The move took place last Sunday, May 1.

The Nicholasville-based winery has closed its location at 2213 Lexington Road, Nicholasville. The Lexington store at 2308 Sir Barton Way, Suite 190, will close May 22. the report said.

More: www.kentucky.com/living/article64717172.html