2016 SUMMER FUN FARM TOUR SERIES
3 Days, 9 Farms, and 3 Hot Topics
In August 2016, Kansas Farmers Union, Farmer Veteran Coalition of Kansas, Kansas Beginning Farmers Coalition, Kansas Center for Sustainable Agriculture and Alternative Crops, and Kansas AgrAbility partnered to present the Summer Fun Farm Tour Series.
These events were a great opportunity to visit other farms-many operated by beginning farmers and military veterans! Participating farms raise everything from fruits and veggies, to beef, sheep and poultry. Bees, too! A diversity of production types are represented. Farms sell their products across numerous marketing channels including direct sales at markets, wholesale to stores and restaurants, and online. Attendees asked questions and got inspired!
We explored the history of agriculture with Dawn Gabel, executive director of the National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame, and learned about opportunities with Farm Fresh HQ, a food hub recently launched in NE Kansas.
We also dug into three of the most requested beginning farmer hot topics-farm food safety, grant writing, and business planning-during short, intensive afternoon workshops.
The series was made possible through funding from Farm Aid. Learn more about the important work of Farm Aid here! The local foods lunch was generously sponsored by Frontier Farm Credit. Learn more about Farm Credit’s beginning farmer opportunities here.
Read overviews of each session, see the tour photos, and get the related resources below!
CRISIS DEFERRED:
Urban farming and second-generation farm diversification promise new models for
small farm success
Urban farming and second-generation farm diversification promise new models for
small farm success
Learn from the three farms featured on the first Summer Fun Farm Tour
SESSION ONE: AUGUST 1
RETURNING TO THE LAND:
Diversification, family, and community lay foundation for success
Diversification, family, and community lay foundation for success
Learn from the three farms featured on the second Summer Fun Farm Tour
SESSION TWO: AUGUST 15
SOLDIER’S RETURN:
Reintegrating with society through farming
Reintegrating with society through farming
Learn from the three farms featured on the third Summer Fun Farm Tour
SESSION THREE: AUGUST 29
Summer Fun Farm Tour Series Kicks-off August 1
Kansas Farmers Union and the Farmer Veteran Coalition of Kansas are offering new and aspiring farmers an opportunity to visit nine Kansas and Missouri farms and learn from educators, producers and other experts about topics ranging from farm food safety to business planning.
The Summer Fun Farm Tour Series runs every other Monday in August and includes stops across the northeastern region of the state, a local foods lunch, networking, and an educational session. There is no cost to participate.
Each day begins at 8:00 a.m. at the National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame in Bonner Springs, KS. After visiting the three farms, participants return to the Hall of Fame by 12:30 p.m. for a local foods lunch sponsored by Frontier Farm Credit.
Following the meal, Dawn Gabel shares the story behind the National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame and a representative of Farm Fresh HQ, a food hub recently launched in NE Kansas, outlines wholesale market opportunities. The featured afternoon ag education session concludes by 4:00 p.m. each day.
The Summer Fun Farm Tour Series is made possible through funding from Farm Aid and a Frontier Farm Credit sponsorship. Tour partners include Kansas Farmers Union, Farmer Veteran Coalition of Kansas, Kansas Beginning Farmers Coalition, Kansas Center for Sustainable Agriculture and Alternative Crops, and Kansas AgrAbility.
Farm Tour Stops
Gibbs Road Farm
JET Produce and Meats
Green Thumbs Up
Workshop Focus
Food Safety Modernization Act
and what it might mean for your farm
Farm Tour Stops
April Valley Farm
Schwinn Produce Farm
Prairie Garden Farm
Workshop Focus
Developing effective
grant writing strategies
Farm Tour Stops
Green Dirt Farm
Oregon Trail Farm
Hillside Honey Apiary
Workshop Focus
Record keeping for your farm
and developing a business plan
Sponsors and Partners
Who Are We?
The Summer Fun Farm Tour Series is a collaboration of the Kansas Farmers Union and the Farmer Veteran Coalition of Kansas.
The project is made possible through funding from Farm Aid and a Frontier Farm Credit sponsorship. Summer Fun Farm Tour Series partners are: