This website serves Farmers and Ranchers in the Kansas AgriTourism Industry.
For family outings, go to http://www.travelks.com

Welcome to Kansas AgriTourism!

This website has been developed specifically for Kansas farmers and ranchers involved in AgriTourism, rural properties where the traveler has an opportunity to experience farm and country life far from the hustle of the city.
The site is a project of the Kansas Agritourism Advisory Council, working in cooperation with:
the Kansas Agriculture Marketing Division and the Travel and Tourism Division of the Department of Commerce
and with financial assistance from Frontier Farm Credit.
We invite you to explore this website to find a variety of articles and resources that will help you succeed in agritourism.
If you have any questions, please contact the Department of Commerce, Travel and Tourism Division, and ask for the Agritourism Liaison.
The Kansas AgriTourism
Advisory Council
 
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Kansas AgriTourism News

November 2005

Greetings!

Congratulations to the Kansas farms, ranches, and agritourism businesses that have just been awarded the Kansas Agritourism Scholarships. We know that you will have an opportunity to learn a lot, and wish you a great conference!

For the rest, a reminder that this is the time of year to really make a big difference in your agritourism business by studying the business of agritourism. There are lots of workshops and conferences you might consider. If you've decided you want to stay home this winter, that's okay too--just grab some good books that will help your business grow!

Finally, we want to thank Dennis Lawson of Frontier Farm Credit who has contributed his knowledge and skill to the writing of our five part series on borrowing money for the farm. This month, he concludes the series with the five factors that determine a loan-starting with Character.

We have to chuckle at that one--the weather in Kansas always guarantees a little more "character" each year for our state's farmers.

And because we are farmers, we are already looking forward to next year, and a fantastic season!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Becky Walters, Chair for the
Kansas AgriTourism Advisory Council

In This Month's Issue:

This month's featured Destination:
Covert Creek Lodge

Kansas Agritourism Scholarships Awarded!

When You Must Borrow
Money to Grow Your Business,
Part V: The Five Credit Factors

American Cowboy Magazine Listings

 
This month's Feature Destination:
Covert Creek Lodge
November 2005

The town of Covert, Kansas is gone. About all that remains are a few old structures like the water tower and the general store, plus some pretty interesting tales.

But the loss of the town doesn’t seem to limit Covert Creek Lodge, about midway between Russell and Osborne in North Central Kansas. Owners Ray and Audrey Schneider say that hunters from Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Mississippi and Colorado, among other states, all come to enjoy good hunting on their 7,500-acre farm.

The Schneider’s purchased the farm in 1991, and converted a purebred auction barn into the lodge about eight years ago. The renovated building has four large bedrooms, two of which sleep four adults, and two that sleep five people.

The bedrooms adjoin a large lobby with chairs, satellite TV, and a spacious kitchen. They also have a house on the property that will sleep eight more.

All meals are furnished in the main dining room, a 58' by 40' hall with a 13' open beam ceiling. The dining room is also rented out for reunions and dinner parties, and Ray says they have served more than 150 people at one time.

Read more to learn how Covert Creek Lodge attracts guests.

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Kansas Agritourism Scholarships Awarded

The Department of Commerce is pleased to announce the award of 13 scholarships for certified agritourism operators to attend a winter meeting and to gain knowledge to improve their farm business.

Nine of the winners applied for scholarship funds to help them attend the North American Farmers' Direct Marketing Association Conference in Houston this January.

The winners attending NAFDMA are:

  • Walters' Pumpkin Patch
  • Renyer's Pumpkin Farm
  • Harvest Farm & Pumpkin Patch
  • Double Arrow C Ranch
  • Bauman's Cedar Valley Farms
  • Survivor Paintball & Recreation Center, LLC
  • Smoky Hill Bison Co.
  • Pendleton's Country Market
  • Moore Ranch


Three others received scholarships to attend the Kansas Bed & Breakfast Conference in Junction City. They are:

  • Bar Lazy L B&B
  • Trader's Lodge
  • PrairieSide Inn of Denmark

And finally, the Green Acres B & B has received a scholarship for an educational trip to Canadian, Texas.
Have a great trip, everyone- and bring it back to Kansas!

Visit the Kansas Agritourism Calendar for More Conferences

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When You Must Borrow Money to Grow Your Business,
The Five Credit Factors

As we are either starting or expanding our direct farm marketing businesses, the inevitable dilemma occurs:

"I don't have enough capital to do it right. Should I borrow, or should I just start small?".

In order to consider lending your money for your new operation or expansion, the lending officer must request a great deal of information about your business.

As we’ve outlined in this series, he or she will look at financial reports, balance sheets, owner’s equity, profit and loss statements, cash flow analyses, and your credit bureau report. (This is the final article in our five part series on borrowing for the farm. You can review these articles on the Kansas Agritourism website.)

The process of applying for a loan takes time, and only after you have developed a frank and open understanding between you and your loan officer will it become time for a decision. Dennis Lawson, the Financial Services Officer for Frontier Farm Credit who has given us the content for this series of articles, identifies 5 credit factors for making that decision.

Five Credit Factors:

  • Character
  • Capital
  • Capacity
  • Collateral
  • Conditions

Learn How the Five Credit Factors Determine Your Loan

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American Cowboy Magazine Listings

If your community has a western-themed event, you have the chance to list it for FREE at www.western events.com. This website is managed by American Cowboy magazine. Go to www.westernevents.com and click on Add An Event. You can add events through 2008 if you know advance dates.

They are looking for events in the following areas:

  • Agricultural Auctions and Sales
  • Western Art Shows and Exhibits
  • Cook-off's
  • Country & Western Concerts
  • Cowboy Poetry Gatherings
  • Cowboy Shooting Events
  • Equestrian Events
  • Western themed Festivals & Fairs
  • Western themedFundraisers, Conferences, & Club Meetings
  • Historical Re-enactments & Rendevous
  • Western themed Holiday Tours & Celebrations
  • Native American Art & Culture
  • Rodeo
  • Western Memorabilia & Antique Shows

Let's get a number of Kansas western events online!
Thanks.

Beverly Hurley
Kansas Tourism

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