Kansas AgriTourism News

March 2005 This is our third newsletter, and the first newsletter in our new format. We hope you enjoy it. Please let us know what you would like to see in the newsletter, and in our new website, www.kansasagritourism.org. To subscribe, simply use the box on the bottom of this page. Thank you! Enjoy. Kansas AgriTourism Advisory Council

In This Month's Issue: Feature Destination: Moore Ranch-An Unforgettble Traildrive! 2005 AgriTourism Workshop Kansas Resources AgriTourism Around the Globe

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Featured Destination

Moore Ranch- An Unforgettable Traildrive!

"One of our goals was to add income to the ranch without making any capital expenditures," says Nancy Moore, of the Moore Ranch in Bucklin, Kansas.

That's certainly a goal every rancher or farmer aspires to, but the Moore Ranch actually realized this goal for the first three years. "The only capital expense we had was for the chuckwagon, which Joe built for about $800," says Nancy.

Joe and Nancy Moore run about 380 Texas Longhorn cattle on 4,000 acres of leased land. Guests pay to come to the ranch to--well, to work on the ranch. Some of their guests help drive the cattle from summer to winter grazing, help brand the cattle by the campfire, and help set up the chuckwagon and teepees for sleeping overnight on the cattle drive.

This year, the ranch experience has resulted in some capital expense, but only as a result of growth. The Moore Ranch is now in the process of adding seven cabins to accommodate 21 more guests, in fact, the footings are being poured this week.

But over all, Joe says, "We are using the natural resources that come with the ranch. We just had to look at them in different ways. What we use for income include the prairie, the landscape, the wide open spaces, the stars, and everything naturally occurring on the farm."

This year, the Moore's have three trail drives scheduled, in April, July, and October, and are promoting a Cowboy and Cowgirl School, along with the "Cowgirls Weekend". Ranch vacations are also available, where guests are on horseback nearly every day, checking on the longhorns, doctoring them in the pasture or monitoring wildlife, and maybe even helping to mend fences. Three meals and lodging are provided, along with a landscape that goes on forever!

"All of our work is done the old-fashioned way," Joe told us. "It is a tradition for our family, and also a time for camaraderie and friendship between family, neighbors, and guests. One of our goals is to share the nature we experience in our everyday ranch life. We enjoy educating others about Texas Longhorns along with the importance of the preservation of the rangeland, wildlife and the other facets of our way of life."

Nancy grew up on a farm in Hoxie, Kansas, and Joe on a ranch in Fairplay, Colorado. After they were married, the couple farmed for about 13 years until they realized that farming was not going to sustain them or the land. "It just did not meet our financial or personal goals. In 1998, we had a huge farm sale, and sold all the equipment we owned. We then went joyously back into the ranching business full time!"

The youngest cowpoke on the ranch is 9-year-old Laramie, who dad describes as "a great hand on the ranch, as well as our number one marketer." If you are ever in the neighborhood, be sure to visit Laramie's museum - treasures he's collected on the ranch and trail rides. Two other boys are grown and moved away from the farm, one working as a tree trimmer, and the other running Joe's father's ranch in Oklahoma. Still, the middle son occasionally comes home to help with branding and trail rides. Sounds like it's kind of hard to forget about the call of the open range.

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2005 Kansas AgriTourism Workshop

How to Attract More Customers, More Often!

Jane Eckert, of Eckert AgriMarketing, has designed the 2005 workshop to build on last year's AgriTourism Conference in Great Bend. This year, we are concentrating on attracting more customers, more often, resulting in more farm revenue.

Each presentation listed blow will be followed by breakout seasons or discussion groups, allowing you to apply what you've learned.

This year's topics will include:

• Weaving Your Website
• Attracting Publicity
• It's All About the "Wow" Experience
• Creating & Maintaining Customer Loyalty with Newsletters
• Putting More Tourism Into Agritourism

This one-day workshop will be repeated in six Kansas cities for your convenience.

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Kansas Resources: Ben Allen is Available to Help You

Ben Allen of K-State Extension has been placed on loan from his regular position to serve this year as a statewide agritourism leader. Ben will travel the state to assist farms and ranches in assessing their resources to begin an agritourism endeavor. Ben will arrange to come to your farm, walk through the property, and to sit down at the kitchen table with the family to assess the skills and attitudes needed to invite the public onto the farm.

Ben will also be a conduit between the farm family and the many resources available in the state; sometimes, it's as simple as just telling people who they need to ask.Click here to learn more.

Other Great Resources

Do you know the people that can help you grow your agritourism business?

There are plenty of people listed in our Kansas Resources Guide ready to help you develop your agritourism destination. Click here.

Save Money On Your Taxes This Year!

With taxes on our mind, a reminder about the Senate Bill 334, which provides a Tax Credit in an amount equal to 20% of your agritourism liability insurance. There is a free, voluntary registration process with the Kansas Department of Commerce. Click here.

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Agritourism Around the Globe

Is Water A Problem?

Did you know that twelve times less water is needed to irrigate a vineyard compared with an alfalfa field? Read about a ranch going to wine in Churchill County, Nevada.Click here.

Agritourism in Singapore!

With organic vegetables on sale rather than branded handbags, a small group of farmers in ultra-modern Singapore is fast becoming one of the city-state's surprise tourist attractions. Click here.

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