SE Missouri Agritourism Bus Tour - Aug. 24 - 25

What: Friday daytime – A one day bus tour in the Cape Girardeau / Perryville area featuring 4 premier agritourism destinations with a focus on business planning and marketing strategies that have helped make these businesses successful.

Shryocks Callaway Farms

Friday evening after the tour – a wine and cheese networking reception, followed by dinner and a series of mini-workshops that include business and marketing planning, networking in the tourism industry and liability and insurance issues. There will be panel discussions on “marketing agritourism” with panelists from: corn maze and pumpkin farm; on farm bed and breakfast; canoe float/campgrounds/fee fishing operation; vegetable and fruit farm and specialty meats

Saturday morning – learn about the Mississippi River Hills Association. Nestled in the counties of Jefferson, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, Perry, Cape Girardeau, and Scott, the Mississippi River Hills is two things: a place, and association of people who work together to promote and protect that place and the products produced there.

Then… explore southeast Missouri agritourism sites on-your-own for the day. You may choose from over 50 destinations including: farmers markets, wineries, roadside markets, bed & breakfast houses, specialty meat product businesses, fee hunting & fishing, historic & natural attractions.

Who should attend: Anyone currently involved in agritourism or anyone who is considering diversifying their farm that is interested in seeing and learning from a variety of agritourism entrepreneurs.

What you will see: We will tour each operation and focus on what has made it a success. The emphasis is on seeing what other agritourism businesses are doing. This is a great opportunity for peer networking, sharing and learning!

The bus will depart promptly at 9:45 am from the Auburn Place Hotel & Suites in Cape Girardeau. Registration begins at 9:15 am. A block of hotel rooms are being held at the Auburn Place Hotel & Suites at a discounted rate of $79.00. You may contact the hotel at (573) 651-4486. When making hotel reservations, please reference “Ag Conference” to receive the discounted rate.

Registration: Pre-registration is necessary and will be honored on a “first-come, first-serve” basis and should be received by August 3rd. No refunds after August 10th.

Registration Fee: $50.00 per person. Prince includes transportation during the tour, guides, wine and cheese reception and dinner. Lunch will be provided by Missouri Farm Bureau Insurance Companies. For additional information call (573) 893-1417.