PARIS, Ky. – Ally Barnett and her family have been thinking of ways to capitalize on the lure of their six acres of sunflowers. Their operation – Stepping Stone Farm – has bas been blooming with visitors since the Barnetts opened the farm for picture taking almost 10 years ago. Their sea of sunflowers has attracted visitors from throughout Kentucky and across state lines.

“As a farmer, I’ve taken pictures of my tobacco, corn and the sunflowers and put it on Facebook,” Barnett said. “A long time ago someone asked if they could come take pictures of the sunflowers and I said yes. That was how it all started. Since that time, it’s grown bigger and bigger. I would estimate we’ve had 4,000 or more guests over the last few years. I’ve seen those who plant sunflower fields and charge people to come. I’ve never charged anybody anything.”

Ally co-owns the farm with her brother, Brandon, and sister-in-law, Hanna Barnett.

“It just thrills us,” Brandon Barnett said. “We’ll go and sit and talk to people as they arrive. I get messages back from people saying it’s now their favorite flower. We’ve had proposals in the sunflower field and we’ve had weddings in among the sunflowers. Just seeing the smiles on peoples’ faces is what makes it all worth it.”

The farm, located on the Bourbon/Harrison county line, had been a tobacco and cattle from for many years. A few standing barns are the only reminder that cattle and tobacco were raised here.

“I’m actually the fifth generation here on this 130-acre farm in Bourbon County,” Ally Barnett said. “The tobacco industry is declining, and we never really know what’s going to happen each year with the tobacco industry. We were looking into getting into other avenues, but not certain which way to turn.”

When Dana and Trudie Reed, of nearby Reed Valley Orchard, announced their retirement after 35 years, the Barnetts decided to lease the property and continue the orchard operations. That property is just two miles away. The Barnetts have combined the two destinations into one for an agritourism hot spot.

“Our thought was why not combine the two attractions into one,” Ally Barnett said. “This summer will be our very first year having something other than just sunflowers. Our two huge sunflower fields will begin to show signs of blooming typically in early July. We feel it’s one of the most beautiful spots in the entire state.

“The orchard we now lease is such a great location and we wanted everybody to have somewhere to come, to play and pick fruit. We wanted to continue their legacy as well as keep bringing in visitors to our sunflower fields.”

Barnett is already promoting the sunflowers, fruits and vegetables through Facebook, live videos and the posting of pictures online.

“I think about my grandpa because he is the reason why we all love farming so much,” she said. “I hope he’d be proud of us.”

The Barnetts will continue to offer fruit from the 3,000 apple trees, 600 peach trees, two-and-a-half acres of strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and tomatoes, just as the Reeds did. They will sell the fruits and vegetables on their storefront at Stepping Stone Farm. They will be open sun up to sun down, seven days a week.

“We get the ground ready for the sunflowers around the time of the (Kentucky) Derby,” Brandon Barnett said. “We try to plant the sunflower seeds about five to six inches apart and plant them with a corn planter. Then, we put a little fertilizer on them and hope they get watered by Mother Nature. They’ll last about two weeks. That’s about the only time they’re good for pictures or anything, then they’ll start drying up.”

For the Barnetts, the sunflower fields serve another purpose – to attract doves.

“The only reason that the sunflowers were planted in the first place is for dove season,” Brandon Barnett said. “We hunt doves in September and all the pictures and the excitement that it brings to people is just a bonus. The flowers will droop over and spit the seed. All the seed will dry up and they’ll drop the seed for the birds, which is what we’re trying to attract.”

Stepping Stone Farm is located at 1640 Cynthiana Road in Paris, Ky. It can be reached at 859-658-6060.