Horseback Riding

Horseback riding brings back so many favorite memories for me. My family had five horses and lots of friends who visited our farm to enjoy them. Go to HORSES & HORSES to find a stable near you.

Latest Louisiana Agritourism Connection Edition Available

Visit the LSU AgCenter's agritourism website for information on Louisiana agritourism topics. Keep abreast of the latest trends and helpful information by reading the quarterly newsletter, click here.

CM Farms in Reeves

Recently, I traveled to CM Farms in Reeves, LA; what a great place to have some farm fun! We met up with owners,  Jackie and Chuck Melsheimer, on their last day of operation for the season in the small town of Reeves in Allen Parish.

Next fall, the farm will move to a new location at Dry Creek in Beauregard Parish.

The Melsheimer's are farmers and they grow watermelon and cantaloupe and sell them at their country market during spring and summer.

Agritourism is a perfect diversification for the Melsheimer's. To see more of their farm, check out these pictures

Oh, Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

One family tradition most families celebrate is putting up the Christmas tree. When I was a child we went to the forest to select a Christmas tree, but today 98% of Christmas trees are grown on Christmas tree plantations. The trees grown on these farms take four to five years to mature. During that time the farmer fertilizes, treats for insects, and prunes the trees two to three times each year.

Christmas tree plantations open the day after Thanksgiving and continue to sell trees until Christmas eve. Louisiana has lots of Christmas tree plantations to find one, log onto either of these websites: http://www.southernchristmastrees.org/ and http://pickyourownchristmastree.org/. In addition to helping you locate a tree, these websites offer helpful information in how to select and care for your tree.

If you own a Christmas tree plantation also register your plantation on our new MarketMaker website; registration is FREE. This site is designed to link consumer with producer. Register your Christmas tree plantation in the "agritourism" section.

Contact Dora Ann Hatch at (318) 927-9654 Ext. 229 or e-mail her at dhatch@agcenter.lsu.edu

Natural Resource Enterprise Workshop on Agritourism a Success!

The November 9th workshop in Rayville at Curry Farms attracted 60 people from five states. Experienced agritourism operators shared information on how to start and grow an agritourism business, an attorney explained agritourism liability issues, Louisiana Department of Ag and Forestry explained the 2008 agritourism limited liability law, Representative "Andy" Anders gave the history of the law, USDA discussed value-added grants and the LSU AgCenter provided information on MarketMaker.

Natural Resource/Agritourism Agenda

8:00 am to 8:45 am Registration

8:45 am to 9:00 am Opening Remarks
Daryl Jones, MS State
Dora Ann Hatch, LSU AgCenter
State Representative John F. “Andy” Anders, District 21
Sponsored 2008 Agritourism Limited Liability Legislation

9:00 am to 10:00 am Presentation: Discovering Your Agritourism Potential
Michael Mays, Lazy Acres Plantation, Chunky, MS

10:00 am to 10:30 am Break sponsored by Richland Farm Bureau

10:30 am to 11:30 pm Panel Discussion: Getting Your Business Started and Lessons Learned
Jo Lynn Mitchell, Mitchell Farms, MS
Bentley Curry, Curry Farms, Inc., Rayville, LA
Jerry Simpson, PaPa Simpson’s Farm, LLC, Arcadia, LA

11:30 am to 12:00 pm Presentation: Agritourism Liability—Attorney Mike Massey

12:00 pm to 12:15 pm Agritourism Limited Liability Legislation-Dr. Carrie Castille, Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry

12:15 pm to 1:15 pm Lunch sponsored by the LSU AgCenter

1:15 pm to 3:00 pm Tour of Curry Farms, Inc. – Bentley and Sandy Curry, owners

3:00 pm to 3:15 pm Break

3:15 pm to 3:30 pm Value Added Producer Grant, Judy Meche, USDA

3:30 pm to 3:45 pm MarketMaker
Dora Ann Hatch, LSU AgCenter, agritourism coordinator

3:45 pm to 4:00 pm Wrap Up/ Evaluations

Click here to register

Landry Vineyards, LLC in West Monroe

Landry Vineyards was established in 1999 by Jeff, Libby and their four sons; Ethan, Kohen, Noah and Micah along with the loving labor of family and friends. The first grape vines planted were two acres of a white European American hybrid grape, Blanc Du Bois, with plans for 2003 expansion including a red grape, Cynthia/Norton. Landry Vineyards was licensed as a Louisiana Native Winery in 2003. The first vineyards were established in Folsom, La. where the winery was also located.

Soon after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, the Landry’s used the storm opportunity to relocate to higher ground. They now reside in the beautiful hill country of West Monroe, La on a 20-acre site including a new winery, vineyards and beautiful tasting room.

Landry Vineyards is a great place to visit and share time with friends. Their tasting room looks out over a country hillside planted with grape vines. The vistas from the front deck are beautiful and the Landry's are great hosts. They offer concerts too; the next one is October 9th.

For more information on the vineyards got to MarketMaker.