By ANN HINCH
Assistant Editor

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Though the central classroom for an upcoming agritourism workshop may be at Purdue University, farmers in 11 other counties can also attend – without driving far from their fields.

Purdue’s cooperative extension service has partnered with the Indiana State Department of Agriculture and state Office of Tourism Development to offer the marketing workshop on June 11, from 1-4 p.m. Eastern.

In person, attendees may go to Pfendler Hall on campus; if they don’t wish to travel that far, however, they may instead contact the extension offices for Allen, Scott, Elkhart, Howard, Hancock, Knox, LaPorte, Harrison, Lake, Pulaski or Monroe counties to learn about local accommodations.

The workshop will be broadcast with IP (interactive two-way) video conferencing technology, which allows even far-flung participants to ask questions during the course, explained Purdue state extension New Ventures Educator Jerry Nelson. Originally, Purdue was only going to broadcast to six counties, but the other five contacted him when they learned of it.

Megan Bruch, marketing specialist with the University of Tennessee’s Center for Profitable Agriculture (CPA), will lead the workshop, which is aimed at agritourism entrepreneurs. Nelson said it will focus on developing successful marketing strategies, developing and distributing brochures and news releases on one’s business and how to use marketing tools available through the state tourism office.

“A lot of people have brochures, but they’re always wanting you to look at them,” he said, “and asking ‘Is this okay?’ This will teach them about that.”

Nelson met Bruch when speaking out of state about agritourism, and wanted her on hand because of the success CPA is having in Tennessee. “That’s what you do,” he explained of his job. “You build great relationships, and you get people to come and speak.

“Besides, people in one state want to hear people from out of state; it gives them a different perspective.”

He added that Bruch had earlier edited an agritourism book included on an extension partnership-produced CD, and he figured she already knew the material.

“There’s no reason to reinvent the wheel,” he said.

For more information or to register, contact your local extension office or Roy Ballard at 317-462-1113. The cost to attend is $15; those registering by June 4 will receive a boxed lunch during the workshop.

This farm news was published in the June 2, 2007 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee.