Farms are inviting visitors to tour a vineyard, enjoy hayrides, buy their produce, and eat ice cream made from the local dairy’s milk. If agritourism is part of your business plan for your farm, you will want to attend the Connecting Agritourism & Agricultural Resources: A Local Products Trail workshop.

Presented by the Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, and Virginia Tourism Corporation in partnership with Eagle Rock Ruritans and Botetourt County Office of Tourism, Connecting Agritourism & Agricultural Resources is scheduled for Tuesday, May 15, 2012, and will be held at the Ikenberry’s Orchard located at 2557 Roanoke Road, Daleville, Virginia, beginning at 1 p.m. and concluding about 4 p.m.

During the workshop, participants will gather information on agritourism possibilities, liability issues, marketing strategies, and ideas for generating income from your products. You will also hear from local agritourism entrepreneurs on their successes and their challenges.

The workshop is free, but you must register. To register, email Kate Lawrence at MCL87@vt.edu or phone 540.473.8260 by Thursday, May 10, 2012.

– Submitted by Kate Lawrence and Carolyn Lavoie