Grants help promote farm impact of your Kentucky Proud products

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1 Agritourism Kentucky A KENTUCKY AGRITOURISM INDUSTRY MANAGEMENT NEWSLETTER May/June 2016 Applications processed every month Grants help promote farm impact of your Kentucky Proud products By Jim Trammel Up to $12,000 per year in grant funding is available to your Kentucky agritourism operation if you will describe how your plan will add value to Kentucky farms, said Jonathan Van Balen of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA). A committee meets the first Wednesday of every month to evaluate applications for Kentucky Proud Promotional Grants, Van Balen said. Up to half of future expenses Van Balen told Agritourism Kentucky the grant reimburses up to 50 percent of future eligible advertising and marketing expenses of reaching consumers at the point of purchase, if it is shown that those efforts promote Kentucky Proud products with direct Kentucky farm impact. Applications for the promotional grants are due the last day of the month and are considered each first Wednesday. Hard-copy applications (not faxed or ed) must be received by KDA at 111 Corporate Drive, Frankfort KY by the end of the previous month to be considered at the following committee meeting, Van Balen said. Grant applicants must be members of the Kentucky Proud marketing program, he said, which is cost-free. Direct Kentucky farm impact key The committee looks at whether the applicant can demonstrate direct Kentucky farm impact based on the dollar value of what they re growing and/or producing. Direct Kentucky farm impact means the dollar value of agricultural products bought, sold, grown, raised, manufactured, or processed with sources clearly linked to Kentucky farms. Direct farm impact includes both agricultural products and ongoing activities. For example, a member applying for a grant to promote a business which sells Kentucky Proud products that have direct farm impact can also include the income generated from a corn maze and farm tours located on their property, Van Balen said. Further explanation would Jonathan Van Balen The Kentucky Proud Promotional Grant meets half of eligible future marketing, advertising, and consumer-outreach expenses (spelled out on the application), up to 10 percent of the direct farm impact. Maximum grants are $12,000 per year and $36,000 lifetime. be needed to determine the direct farm impact of a farm that has added a bed-and-breakfast function. The applicant spells out future eligible advertising, marketing, and consumer outreach expenses on the application. The grant will reimburse up to 50 percent of those expenses, with a match based on10 percent of the applicant s reported direct Kentucky farm impact. Maximum grant amounts are $12,000 in a 12-month period, and $36,000 lifetime. Funds for the promotional grant program come from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund, which uses monies from the tobacco Master Settlement Agreement. Tell about your facility On the five-page application, applicants should include background about your farm or venue, emphasizing community interactions, such as if it s a multi-generation operation, the kinds of activities that take place, the products you are growing and selling, Van Balen said, and how you support and interact with other Kentucky Proud members. A series of questions relate to the direct Kentucky farm impact. One question asks an estimate of the dollar value of the Kentucky agricultural products that will be advertised, marketed. and promoted by the grant project. Another inquires whether the applicant would buy, grow, sell, produce, manufacture, process, or market Kentucky Proud products even in the absence of the grant. Another asks for the list of proposed future expenses. Expenses already incurred are not eligible. Download the grant application form at marketing/documents/kyp_grantapplication.pdf. More on the grant program: jonathan.vanbalen@ ky.gov. To join Kentucky Proud, visit Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Ryan F. Quarles, Commissioner Amelia Brown Wilson, Director, Division of Agritourism (502) amelia.wilson@ky.gov

2 SETBACKS Everybody has them. Everybody deals with them. Here s how three operators responded to theirs. We wish every agritourism project could meet with the apparent smooth, uncomplicated success that seems common to the subjects profiled in this newsletter. But that s rarely the case in the real world. The path to eventual success more often has twists and detours. Still, revisiting and revising your situation could yet straighten and smooth the way. Here are three recent agritourism-related situations in which unexpected difficulties are being addressed through flexibility. By Jim Trammel THE PROBLEM : Boyle Fiscal Court rejects farmers market proposal The Boyle Fiscal Court shut down a proposal to locate the Boyle County Farmers Market at Constitution Square Historic Site, offering instead the use of the courthouse parking lot, reported the Danville Advocate-Messenger. Jennifer Kirchner, executive director of the Danville-Boyle County Convention and Visitors Bureau and manager of the county-owned park, appeared before the fiscal court to seek approval for an $1,800 license agreement for the market to use the park on Saturdays from April to October each year, but she didn t get the hoped-for quick approval. superintendent of the Danville Independent School District. As a result, the Market will now be located on the campus of Danville High School, just a few blocks off Danville s Main Street. Wyatt said Dr. Look has had experience with crafting partnerships between schools and farmers markets. Plans are evolving for students to work as interns at the farmers markets for academic credit. Everybody wanted the farmers market to be downtown, Wyatt said. It was just a question of where. FOLLOW UP: Following the rejection by the fiscal court, a compromise solution was reached primarily through the efforts of John Wyatt, director of the Boyle County Farmers Market, and Dr. Keith Look, 2 Agritourism Kentucky May-June 2016

3 THE PROBLEM : Apathy threatens summer civic events in Cave City A town hall meeting in Cave City to discuss upcoming civic events, including a summer concert series and the Proud Days Festival, drew fewer than 10 attendees, prompting discussion of the possible cancellation of the festival. Over time, fewer people volunteer to help with events, and those who have been involved say they need more assistance, according to a report by Gina Kinslow of the Glasgow Daily Times. Robert Smith, city code enforcement officer, said absent more involvement, the events may have to be canceled. Mayor Dwayne Hatcher agreed. The group discussed holding the summer concert series within walking distance of local hotels instead of downtown so tourists can walk to the concerts, or possibly having a concert at the ballpark off Mammoth Cave Street. FOLLOW-UP: Over 20 citizens, many members of a local church, were among the citizens stepping up at the next month s meeting after Smith raised his alarm.paul Sullivan, chamber president, characterized the situation for Agritourism Kentucky: You ll have five meetings and the same five people show up every time. Smith told AK that some citizens didn t realize until they saw the story in the Glasgow paper that there was a problem fighting apathy. He said planning for Proud Days and the allied events are now on their way to being out of the woods. The cancelled Sept festival would have marked the annual event s 20th year, said David Rowlette, chamber executive director. The festival, billed as the chamber s signature event, drew 60,000 attendance last year, creating the busiest weekend of the year for Berea restaurants and lodgings. FOLLOW-UP: Here there seem to be only partial solutions. Rowlette told AK some festival events can be repackaged and repurposed, and conducted independent of the traditional 72-hour festival time window. The 5K run, for example, is connected primarily to St. Joseph Berea hospital and can be re-set, perhaps for the weekend before Independence Day. The chamber has been in touch with the state adventure tourism group to re-organize activities for a GeoTour weekend. (GeoTour is an ongoing, phoneassisted nature-based scavenger hunt.) Vendors who were set for the Spoonbread Festival will be notified in a couple of weeks about alternate arrangements in which they could participate. Rowlette especially hopes that the Balloon Glow, the hot-air balloon launch that was one of the festival s most impressive sights, can be re-launched. But whatever arrangements evolve, the cancellation represents a potential loss of up to $25,000 in revenue to the chamber, and as much as $1 million lost in economic activity for area merchants. THE PROBLEM : Abrupt cancellation halts Berea Spoonbread Festival The Berea Chamber of Commerce voted to cancel the 2016 Spoonbread Festival amid concerns over safety following a controversy over vendor issues and other conflicts with Berea city government. Agritourism Kentucky May-June

4 Downtown Henderson Farm & Art Market to open May 25 The Henderson Farmers Market expands its services this summer, offering a downtown farm and art market one evening a week. City officials said the Downtown Henderson Farm & Art Market will operate from 4-8 p.m. CDT every Wednesday through Sept. 28, at Audubon Mill Park on the riverfront except June 15, when it will close for the kickoff of the W.C. Handy Blues and Barbecue Festival. Henderson County has two wineries: Farmer & Frenchman, a winery, vineyard and event venue which has adapted yesteryear s tobacco culture to today s winery concepts; and Boucherie Winery, located in Spottsville, whose stock is partially pictured above. Visitors can find these wineries products at the Hendeson Farmers Market throughout the summer. (Photo from Boucherie Winery s Facebook page) Downtown Henderson Partnership (DHP) executive director Laura Peck told AK the new space will feature more local fresh food, art, music, vendors, food trucks, and activities of other organizations. The Farm & Art Market will give farmers market vendors an extra opportunity to sell at a different location each week. The regular Henderson Farmers Market will open May 1 through Oct. 31, operating Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time, at the Cates/Porter Pavilion on the Henderson County Fairgrounds. DHP worked with several groups to launch the Farm & Art Market concept. DHP Assistant director Sarah Stewart listed the supporting groups as Henderson County Parks and Programs, the City of Henderson, the Henderson County Tourist Commission, and the Henderson Farmers Market Association. More: (270) ; Laura Peck, laura@downtownhenderson.org, or Sarah Stewart, sarah@downtownhenderson.org.. Auburn precinct voters approve alcohol sales at Carriage House A winery in rural Logan County will be able to move forward with plans to bring in new customers following the results of a special election March 22, according to the Bowling Green Daily News. Voters in the Auburn electoral precinct including Carriage House Vineyards approved sales of alcohol at the winery by a margin. The decisive victory pleased co-owners Don and Lisa Davis, who had been expanding their vineyard, hoping for legal permission to sell their products onsite. Logan is a dry county, and the special precinct-wide election was necessary to gain approval for alcohol sales at the winery. Don Davis told the Daily News he was grateful for the depth of community support for the winery, expressed in the large margin of victory. Carriage House was profiled in a Daily News story reprinted in the October 2015 issue of Agritourism Monthly. The October 2015 AM profile In the next AK: Strategy tips for your winery s local-option special election. 4 Agritourism Kentucky May-June 2016

5 Permanent structure slated for August opening New Pikeville FM facility will preserve region s agricultural heritage The Pikeville Farmers Market will move to a permanent structure this year, thanks to business development help from the Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development (KCARD) and a $150,000 grant from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board. To help bring more vendors to the market, the management decided to open vendor spots to farmers beyond the county lines. This past year, farmers from Floyd and Martin counties joined the market family, and Pinson said there has been interest from farmers in other surrounding counties. We are a regional hub, and we are excited to open our market to our neighboring farmers, said Pinson. As we have expanded our growers, we have also expanded the variety of locally grown products we offer, which is bringing more customers to the market. New facility coming in August The market will be breaking ground on a new pavilion. as its area farmers break ground this spring for their new plantings. The target date to move into their new pavilion is August This is a collaborative project between the city, Teaching college students extension, and the market, but it would have never been It is also fun to have the University of Pikeville possible without the dedication and support that we students that are not from the mountains come into the received from the staff at KCARD, said Joyce Pinson, market, Pinson said. They ask about our local foods a farmer and the volunteer market manager. It didn t like greasy beans or purple dog creek tomatoes, and happen overnight. KCARD has worked with us for we take the time to teach them about our mountain more than two years guiding us through the process to culture through our food. develop a business plan and write the grant, but it has been worth the effort. Pinson says the sense of community that has grown with the market brings people back each week. Pinson The market is growing, and this new structure explained the vendors and Cooperative Extension have will foster that growth by providing a good location, a worked together to develop special events such as the permanent structure, and stability, saidaleta Botts of Corn Roast, 1950 s Day, the Pig Roast, and the popular KCARD. However, the real strength of the market Christmas in July event to build community spirit. lies in its vendors, the good relationships the leaders in the market have with the city and Cooperative Pinson credits KCARD with helping to end the Extension, and the support of all those players for frustration of the market using tents that blew away in seeing a strong market develop in Pikeville. the wind and were ineffective shields against frequent Tuesday-session rains. Regional heritage preserved KCARD guided us as we set goals and guidelines, The Pikeville Farmers Market has seen significant and saw the potential for market growth in our growth in the last few years, with up region, Pinson said. We are grateful to 20 vendors in attendance on market KCARD realized there was potential for days. Pinson says one key to the agricultural growth in Pikeville and is market s success is the emergence of willing to work with our small market. young farmers working to bring back Pikeville Farmers Market operates from June to November, with several soft opening events the regional heritage through their planned for May. Operating hours (Eastern time) products. will be 4:30-7:00 p.m. Tuesdays, and 9 a.m.- 1 p.m. Saturdays. Follow them on Facebook. We now have a lot of our vendors For more about KCARD assistance to rural in their 30s embracing the heirloom development, visit vegetables of the region, like greasy KCARD press release beans and cushaw, Pinson said. Cushaws weigh from 7 to 25 pounds. Agritourism Kentucky May-June

6 KENTUCKY CALENDAR OF EVENTS May - June 2016 Compiled from the listing of county fairs and ag events posted at the Kentucky Department of Agriculture website, and the Kentucky Festivals Schedule page at ohiofestivals.net. Events are subject to change or cancellation; check with site before attending. MAY 5-7: Spring Fling Cadiz 5-7: Festival of Flowers Utica 5-7: Woodson House Garden Festival Munfordville 6: Night with Our Patriotic Stars Cadiz 6-7: Derby Day Festival Williamstown 7: Spring Fling: Artists and Crafters on Main Festival and Poker Run Cadiz 13-14: International Bar-B-Q Festival Owensboro 13-14: Jazz, Arts and Wine Fest Newport 13-14: Lower Town Arts and Music Festival Paducah 13-14: Spring Festival Mount Washington 14: Ky. Wine & Vine Fest Nicholasville 14: Mudbugs 4 USO Soirée Cadiz 14-15: Bluegrass Birding Festival Lexington 14-15: Ky. Gourd Show Taylorsville 17-21: Coal Festival Providence 19-21: Apple Blossom Festival Elkhorn City 20-21: BBQ Festival Fountain Run 20-21: Old Louisville Springfest Louisville 20-22: Moonshiners Ball Berea 21: Art in the Alley Greensburg 21: Forest Fest Fairdale 21: Francisco s Farm Arts Festival Midway 21: Jane s Saddlebag Wine Festival and Art/Craft Show Big Bone Lick 21: Spring Fest Glendale 21-22: Ky. Sheep and Fiber Festival Lexington 22: Buy Local Fair Louisville 26-29: Ky. Mountain Laurel Festival Pineville 26-30: Abbey Road on the River Louisville 27-28: Art in the Park Versailles 27-28: Salt Works Appalachian Homecoming Manchester 28-29: Ky. Reggae Festival Louisville 27-30: Strawberry Festival Beaver Dam 6 Agritourism Kentucky May-June 2016 How to get your event listed here details, with the word Event in the subject line, to jim. trammel@ky. gov. 28: BBQ, Blues and Bikes Elizabethtown 28: Mill Springs Annual Cornbread Festival Monticello 28: Turtle Festival McKee 28-29: Spring into Summer Festival Oak Grove JUNE 2-4: Capital Expo Festival Frankfort 2-4: Heritage Festival Lewisport 2-4: Poke Sallet Festival Harlan 2-4: Sally Gap Bluegrass Festival Williamsburg 2-5: Great American Brass Band Festival Danville 3-4: Best Bloomin Arts and Crafts Festival Louisville 3-4: Bluegrass Festival Bardstown 3-4: Bourbon City BBQ Festival Bardstown 3-4: Germantown Schnitzelburg Blues Festival Louisville 3-4: Mortons Gap Coalfield Festival 3-4: Mountain Memories Festival Frenchburg 3-4: Pennington Folk Festival Princeton 3-4: Portland Festival Louisville 3-4: Seedtime on the Cumberland Whitesburg 3-4: Summer Fireworks Festival Ludlow 3-4: Trade Days Sturgis 3-5: Highland Games Glasgow 3-5: Jefferson Davis Birthday Weekend Fairview 4: Americana World Festival Louisville 4: Art in the Garden Augusta 4: Rods and Ribs BBQ Festival Central City 4: Wine and Cheese Tasting Festival Bardstown 4-5: Butchertown Art Fair Louisville 4-5: Great American Art Festival Danville 4-5: Arts on the Green/Colonial Trade Faire LaGrange 4-8: Nicholas Co. Youth Fair Carlisle 6/4-7/10 (Weekends): Highland Renaissance Festival Eminence 4-11: Russell Co. Jaycees Fair Russell Springs 5: Taste of Newport 7-11: Muhlenberg Co. Fair Greenville 9-12: Festival of the Bluegrass Lexington 9-12: ItalianFest Newport 10-11: Freedom Festival White Plains 10-11: Fort Harrod Beef Festival Harrodsburg 10-12: Greek Festival Louisville 11: Beer Cheese Festival Winchester 11: Mighty Kindness Hoot Louisville 11: Stephen Foster Festival Bardstown 11: Three Forks River Festival Beattyville 11: Uncorked! Wine and Art Festival Maysville 11: Vet Jam Glasgow 13-18: Boyle Co. Fair Danville 13-18: Bullitt Co. Fair Shepherdsville 13-18: Clinton Co. Fair Albany 13-18: Green Co. Fair Greensburg 13-18: Murray/Calloway Co. Fair Murray 13-18: Shelby County Fair Shelbyville 15-18: W.C. Handy Blues and Barbecue Festival Henderson 15-19: PlayThink Movement and Flow Arts Festival Berea 16-18: Holley NHRA National Hot Rod Reunion Bowling Green 16-18: Perry Co. Fair Hazard 16-18: Stringbean Memorial Bluegrass Festival Gray Hawk 17: Kentuckiana Pride Festival Louisville 17-18: Ky. Blueberry Festival Edmonton 17-18: Summer Festival Lyndon 17-19: MainStrasse Village Original Goettafest Covington 17-25: Allen Co. Fair Scottsville 17-25: Woodford Co. Fair - Versailles 18: Bluegrass Senior Dog Rescue Barnyard Bash Georgetown 18: Festival Crestwood 18: Ky. Craft Beer Festival Elizabethtown 18: Lake Cumberland Blues Harbor Festival Jamestown 18: Classic Car, Truck and Motorcycle Cruise-In Munfordville

7 Registration opens May 12 for KFB Roadside Farm Market 2016 tour Kentucky Farm Bureau (KFB) announces the Roadside Farm Market Tour, set for June to markets in Indiana and Michigan, announces Fran McCall, KFB Certified Roadside Farm Market coordinator. This is a great opportunity for members to tour successful roadside farm markets, agribusinesses, and more, McCall said. The tour is a unique opportunity to visit operations with successful farm marketing programs and to learn different types of promotion strategies that may be useful on your farm, she said. Tour registrations will be accepted until the roster is full. Signups begin Thursday, May 12 at 10 a.m. EDT, McCall said. More:: Fran McCall, (502) , ext or Fran.McCall@kyfb.com. CALENDAR (continued) JUNE (continued) 18: RoeblingFest Covington 18: Well Crafted Harrodsburg 18-25: Lawrenceburg Fair 20-25: Bourbon Co. Fair Paris 20-25: Gallatin Co. Fair Glencoe 20-25: McCracken Co. Fair Paducah 20-25: Union Co. Fair Sturgis 21-25: Rudy Fest Grayson 22-25: Gallatin Co. Fair Glencoe 22-25: ROMP Fest Owensboro 22-25: Gallatin Co. Fair Glencoe 22-25: McCreary County Fair Whitley City 25: Blueberry Jubilee and Pancake Day Paris 25: Dixie Music Festival London 25: Pride Festival Lexington 25-26: Bluegrass Lacrosse Festival Louisville 25-7/2: Adair Co. Fair Columbia 25-7/2: Casey Co. Fair Liberty 25-7/2: Clark Co. Fair Winchester 27-7/2: Garrard Co. Fair Lancaster 28-7/2: Scott Co. Kiwanis Fair Georgetown Kentucky Farm Bureau press release Bourbon tourism has matured into a huge Kentucky business Last year, nearly 900,000 guests visited the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour as bourbon tourism remained on a record-setting pace, according to the Kentucky Distillers Association. Bourbon tourists, on average, spend $1,000 on their trip, according to a study by the University of Louisville. The study said more than 85 percent of visitors are from outside the Commonwealth. Eric Gregory, Kentucky Distillers Association president, has predicted the tours will serve a million visitors this year. The state s bourbon sector is in the midst of a $1.3 billion investment boom, Gregory said. The expansion includes new and expanded distilleries, warehouses, bottling operations and tourism centers. More: Kentucky Distillers Association press release Chrisman Mill stores move to Lexington s Fayette Mall Chrisman Mill Vineyard s two stores have combined and moved into a new location at Lexington s Fayette Mall, according to a report from the Lexington Herald-Leader. The move took place last Sunday, May 1. The Nicholasville-based winery has closed its location at 2213 Lexington Road, Nicholasville. The Lexington store at 2308 Sir Barton Way, Suite 190, will close May 22. the report said. Send your agritourism news to your state newsletter! The next Agritourism Kentucky, in which you can publicize your July and August agritourism events, comes out Monday, June 27 just in time for Independence Day activities. Copy deadline is Monday, June 20. More: Agritourism Kentucky A KENTUCKY AGRITOURISM INDUSTRY MANAGEMENT NEWSLETTER Published by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Division of Agritourism. Agritourism Kentucky May-June