Kansas AgriTourism Initiative Moves Forward
The Kansas Agritourism Initiative is moving forward with the establishment of an agritourism web site and an electronic newsletter. Several workshops will also be held throughout the state this spring, and a consultant will be available to meet one-on-one with agritourism operators or groups of operators.
The new web site, www.kansasagritourism.org, is specifically for the Kansas agritoursm industry, farmers and ranchers, and all related stakeholders, including Kansas vendors interested in partnering with Kansas agritourism industries. It will provide a centralized calendar for local and regional agritourism meetings or other special events, as well as a monthly electronic newsletter, an "Ask the Expert" section, relevant articles, featured agritourism operations, marketing tips, and many merchandizing resources.
The web site and the new electronic monthly newsletter, Kansas AgriTourism News, are provided by the Kansas Agritourism Advisory Council, with financial support from Frontier Farm Credit, based in Manhattan, Kansas. Eckert AgriMarketing is producing the newsletter and the web site, with assistance provided by the Department of Commerce Agriculture Marketing and Travel & Tourism divisions. To subscribe to the newsletter, contact Janna Dunbar, AgriTourism Liaison for the Kansas Department of Commerce, at jdunbar@kansascommerce.com or (785) 296-3737.
Those who attended last year's Agritourism Conference in Great Bend had an opportunity to hear and talk with Jane Eckert of Eckert AgriMarketing. Eckert AgriMarketing will be working throughout the state, meeting with tourism professionals and stakeholders to help develop area partnerships and programs with the agriculture community. Eckert will conduct a full-day workshop in six different locations around the state. These workshops will help agritourism businesses learn how to improve their marketing skills and increase their number of visitors. The dates and locations of the workshops are:
AGRITOURISM WORKSHOPS
- Dodge City - April 19
- Colby - April 21
- Lawrence - May 3
- Chanute - May 5
- Salina - May 17
- El Dorado - May 19
The Kansas Department of Commerce is partnering with area Resource Conservation & Development (RC&D) offices and KSU Extension to coordinate the workshops. For more information or to register, please visit www.kansasagritourism.org or www.kansascommerce.com.
Another new resource for agritourism operators will be Ben Allen. Allen is a Chautauqua County Extension Agent who will be taking a sabbatical beginning March 1 to serve as a consultant for agritourism operators throughout the state. Allen will be available to consult with individuals and small groups. Ben Allen can be contacted at (620) 725-5890 or ballen@oznet.ksu.edu.
"The key emphasis for this year is to help agritourism stakeholders learn and network," said Janna Dunbar, Agritourism Liaison for the Kansas Department of Commerce. "We expect that by working together, tourism professionals, farmers and ranchers, and community leaders will develop strong alliances that can sustain agritourism efforts for years to come."
The overall goal of the Kansas Agritourism Initiative is to generate more tourism revenue for the state and to help Kansas farmers and ranchers boost their income and preserve their enterprises by tapping into the emerging market for agritourism. Funding for the Agritourism Initiative is provided by the Economic Development Initiatives Fund (EDIF), which is derived from state lottery proceeds.
The mission of the Kansas Department of Commerce is to empower business and communities through bold leadership using strategic resources to realize prosperity in Kansas.
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