NAFDMA Tour Stop Three

During the NAFDMA Conference participants will board buses and travel to agritourism destinations. There are seven farm stops planned. Choose the bus number that has the stops you prefer.

One of seven of the stops is described below.

Gentry’s Farm www.gentryfarm.com
This seventh generation historic working farm has been owned by the Gentry family for over 165 years. In recent years they have diversified their farming efforts to include pick-your-own pumpkins and growing hay as well as raising beef cattle. They also rent some of the nearly 400 acres to farmers who own combines and row crop winter wheat, corn, and soybeans. Their main focus is to offer educational programs for school groups in the fall and the spring, and they also offer a down-to-earth fun summer day camp. Gentry’s Farm is a past recipient of the “Conservation Farm of the Year” for Williamson County for their efforts in stream mitigation and wildlife conservation easements.

NAFDMA Tour Stop Two

During the NAFDMA Conference participants will board buses and travel to agritourism destinations. There are seven farm stops planned. Choose the bus number that has the stops you prefer.

One of seven of the stops is described below.

Oakes Farm www.oakesfarm.com
The Oakes Family has been involved in farming for three generations in the Corryton community. After years of growing tobacco and raising beef cattle, the Oakes began growing daylilies, a hobby which has grown into a nationwide mail-order nursery, Oakes Daylilies. The Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch at Oakes Farm is a joint venture for Ken Oakes and David Black, University of Tennessee graduates and brothers-in-law. Oakes Farm was the recipient of the 2001 “Farmer of the Year” award for Knox County. 2014 will be our 14th year producing a maze, and we look forward to another great year. Oakes Farm has been featured in many media stories, both regionally and nationally. The Trail of Doom, Knoxville’s largest and longest-running haunted attraction, features a haunted corn field, haunted woods, and many surprising elements

More About NAFDMA Tours

During the NAFDMA Conference participants will board buses and travel to agritourism destinations. There are seven farm stops planned. Choose the bus number that has the stops you prefer.

One of seven of the stops is described below.

he Apple Barn  www.applebarncidermill.com
The Apple Barn really is a barn that was originally built back in 1910. After a complete renovation in 1980, The Apple Barn gave new life to this business.  In The Apple Barn, you can browse a wide variety of handmade mountain crafts, food items, home decorations and collectables. And of course, apples and cider, from which it all began. You can head to The Cider Bar where you can sample the sippin’ cider hot or cold. The Apple Pie Kitchen, offers delicious treats like fried apple pies, apple doughnuts, and apple dumplins for eating there or taking home. The Candy Factory produces original sweets, including old-timey favorites, handmade on century-old equipment, and The Creamery offers up delicious homemade ice cream. Have a bite in either The Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant or The Applewood Farmhouse Grill and be sure to stop into The Apple Barn Winery which specializes in delightful apple and fruit wines.

to see a video click here.

To qualify for the early registration rate, please be sure payment is postmarked by December 15th.

NAFDMA Opens Registration for Conference in February in TN

The North American Farmers’ Direct Marketing Association  (NAFDMA) advances the prosperity of its members and the farm direct marketing industry through networking, participation, education, and innovation.

They will celebrate 30 years in Tennessee this year on February 1-6, 2015 at their annual conference. By registering before December 15th you can save $200. Click here for the details.

Dealing with Complaints on Social Media

Megan Bruch Leffew, Marketing Specialist, Center for Profitable Agriculture at the University of Tennessee’s Institute of Agriculture, has recently authored an excellent fact sheet on “How to Handle Complaints and Poor Reviews on Social Media: Direct Marketing Tips for Specialty Crop Growers.”  It’s worth a read if you are engaging your audience through social media. Click here to read more. Learn how you can effectively deal with complaints  on social media.

Register for the 2014 Women in Agriculture Conference

MS Agritourism Assocation Meeting

Our friends in Mississippi are hosting their annual agritourism association meeting on November 17-18, 2014 in Natchez, MS and they have invited us to come.  The agenda looks great, see below:

Monday, November 17, 2014
12:30- Registration
1:00- Pamela Bartholemew: Organizing a Media Day for your Agritourism Enterprise
2:45- Break
3:00- Kathy Wise: Coming back to the farm
4:00- MAA Meeting
6:00- Welcome to Natchez Meet and Greet at the Natchez Welcome Center

Tuesday, November 18, 2014
8:00- Jan Miller: Retail and Merchandising Crash Course
9:00- Pamela Bartholemew: Hosting a Farm to table dinner as a Profit making & Showcase event
10:00- Break
10:15- Jan Holley: Hosting a wedding on the farm
11:00- Paige Hunt: Marketing and Advertising for your Farm
12:00- Close

To register complete the following: 

Name and Title: _______________________________________________________________
Organization or Farm: _________________________________________________________
Address: _____________________________________________________________________
City: _________________________________________ State: __________ Zip: __________
Email: ___________________________________ Phone: _____________________________

Registration Fee $50

Make Check Payable to:
Mississippi Agritourism Association
Send Check Care of
Jo Lynn Mitchell
650 Leaf River Church Road
Collins, Mississippi 39428
Phone: (601) 606-0762
Email: jolynn.mitchell@yahoo.com

For lodging:
Accommodations Natchez Grand Hotel
Telephone: (601) 446-9994
Single $109; Double $109