By NANCY VORIS
Indiana Correspondent INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Farmers and landowners looking to expand their income with another product or service may gather ideas at Indiana Farm Bureau’s (IFB) “Value-Added Adventure” Sept. 17-18.
The tour visits several agriculture enterprises in northern Indiana, all known for their success in turning a profit on minimal acreage. Participants will leave by bus from the IFB’s home office in downtown Indianapolis at 9:30 a.m. Sept. 17 and return the following evening around 6:30 p.m.
Tiffany Obrecht, IFB policy specialist and coordinator of the event, said the tour is for farmers and landowners who have ever: thought about adding a country market to their farm; wondered how to expand the vegetable growing season; wanted a way to generate profit on spare acreage; wanted to bring family members back to the farm; or wanted to get back to the family farm and are looking for some extra income to make it possible.
“You can explore completely different niche markets and have the opportunity to speak with the producers personally,” Obrecht added.
Farms and facilities featured on the tour include:
•Pleasant Acres Farms of Clarks Hill – Established in early 2009, Pleasant Acres grows 25 types of vegetables which it sells to restaurants, retail outlets such as farmers’ markets and through CSAs (community supported agriculture). It uses high tunnels to extend its growing season and is experimenting with growing cool-season crops in refurbished buildings formerly used for livestock.
•Birky Farms of Valparaiso – In the family since 1919, the farm has made several adaptations. In addition to raising the traditional soybeans, corn and wheat, the Birkys sell their own pork direct to consumers. They have also added a country store on their farm.
•Hensler Nursery of Hamlet – Dating back to 1953, this wholesale nursery is open for events throughout the year, including hosting pumpkin pickers and biggest pumpkin contests in the fall, and marketing Christmas decorations and cut-your-own Christmas trees in the winter.
•Purple Porch Co-op, South Bend area – Created in 2008, this co-op seeks to match customers who want local foods with those who produce it within a 60-mile radius of South Bend. The ordering is done online via the co-op’s website, and a designated drop-off time for producers and pick-up time for members is set each week. Members of this food co-op will be the dinner speakers Sept. 17.
•Cooks Bison Ranch of Wolcottville – This third-generation farm made a drastic changeover in 1998 with 30 head of bison on the farm. Now with more than 300 head of bison, the ranch has grown to provide meat to local retailers, restaurants and direct to consumers online.
•Satek Winery of Fremont – Using farmland in the family for generations, for many uses, in 1992 it was converted to grow grapes for Indiana’s up-and-coming wine industry. In 1999 Satek Winery opened. It now produces nearly 21 varieties.
•Steele Farms of Decatur – The Steele farm has been in the family since 1880. The agritourism operation boasts a corn maze, pumpkin picking, hayrides, a marketplace and plenty of animal petting opportunities.
The tour is limited to 42 passengers, so registration by Sept. 1 is mandatory. The cost is $75 per person, which includes hotel and meals. Collegiate Farm Bureau members can participate for free.
IFB’s co-sponsors are the USDA Farm Service Agency and Farm Credit Services of Mid-America. For more information and registration, visit www.new foodforthought.com |
