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Participants can visit local working farms in Polk and Rutherford counties

 

The North Carolina Foothills Farm Tour returns with a phenomenal lineup on June 25. The tour is open to all, and will feature six Polk and Rutherford County farms. Participants can visit local working farms, learning how things work behind the scenes. 

 

The farm tour will be self-guided, allowing ticket-holders to look into all the available options, and decide where and when to visit based on their tastes. The Polk County farms featured are Butter Cup Cottage, San Felipe Farm, and Looking Glass Creamery. 

 

The visits will be educational and scenic, with local farmers sharing their knowledge and passion for their work. Tickets are sold per vehicle on Eventbrite, so only one ticket is needed for each car. For more information and a link to purchase tickets, head over to www.ncfoothillsfarmtour.com.

 

Dawn Jordan, the Agricultural Economic Development Director in Polk County, adds, “One of the main reasons to participate in the North Carolina Foothills Farm tour is to better understand what is happening in your community. If you know your farmers, business owners, and even know your ‘neighbors next door,’ you know what resources are available.”

 

“My favorite comment overheard from a TK Family Farm tour participant last year was ‘I had no idea what was involved in growing those apples.’ Similar comments are heard regularly. There is so much happening ‘behind the scenes’ at every farm. The farm tour is an opportunity to glimpse what is happening ‘behind the curtain’ at our farms.” 

 

The farm tour is also looking for volunteers, offering a unique experience for those who choose to help. Volunteers for the morning or afternoon will earn a free ticket to attend the other half of the day’s tour. If you are interested in volunteering, reach out by email to info@foothillsfarmtour.com. 

 

If, for some reason, you are unable to attend the June 25 tour, don’t fret. There will be a second opportunity in the fall on October 25. The fall tour will be set up slightly differently and will operate as a small-group tour, with in-depth looks at farms in Polk and Rutherford counties. The fall tour will be more structured, as opposed to the choose-your-own-adventure style of the upcoming June event. 

 

The farm tour makes for a fabulous event for the whole family. The Corbett family, who has participated in past tours, shared a few comments with the Bulletin regarding their past experiences at the annual event. 

 

“I look forward every year to the opportunity to connect with local growers and neighbors. Our family was made to feel right at home on this tour,” says Jay Corbett. 

 

Gill Corbett, age 16, said “I didn’t just meet the farmers. They became my friends.” 

 

“I was surprised how much science I learned on the farm tour. Chemistry, fermentation, pest control, and the growing process of many of my favorite foods was very interesting,” added 17-year-old Grafton Corbett.

 

Sherry Corbett summed up her experience with the N.C. Foothills Farm Tour by saying, “We attended the farm tour as a family. This activity allowed us to share and learn together, creating great family memories.”