2/11/2011
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) will sponsor a daylong session on agritourism featuring one of the industry’s pioneers during the first day of the Small Farms Conference, February 17-19, at Lakeview Resort near Morgantown.
Beth Kennett has operated Liberty Hill Farm in Rochester, Vt., since 1984, along with her husband Bob. Liberty Hill is a working dairy farm, part of the Cabot Cheese cooperative and a model of green farming. The 1825-era farmhouse serves as a seven-room hotel that has averaged more than 1,000 guests a year.
“The Department is honored to have such a highly regarded expert speak at this conference,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass. “I encourage anyone in the region interested in opening or growing an agritourism enterprise to attend this session.”
Kennett will address a number of topics during the session, including agritourism best management practices, five marketing partners you should never be without, the concept of “coopertition,” the importance of “going green,” and current issues and trends in the agritourism industry.
“Not long ago, young families would go on vacation and visit grandma and grandpa back on the farm,” Kennett said. “Now, many families are again searching for that special sense of place they feel has been lost in today’s society. We have many city dwellers come to us to reconnect with basic values.”
Commissioner Douglass said that West Virginia farms can play the same role in this state.
“Even though we’re largely a rural state, we’ve lost many farms over the years. Agritourism preserves that agricultural heritage for future West Virginians, and can provide a substantial income opportunity,” said Commissioner Douglass.
For more information about the session, contact Cindy Martel at
cmartel@wvda.us or at 304-541-9756. To register for the session or the full conference, visit
http://smallfarmcenter.ext.wvu.edu/conference.
Contact Information
Gus R. Douglass
douglass@ag.state.wv.us