Archive for April, 2010
Win a FREE $17,500 Farm Wedding Package!
Does this offer sound to good to be true? Well, the Today Show is not the only place that has made an offer to have a prospective bride’s dream come true. Seven Sycamore Ranch in Ivanhoe, California just recently announced a FREE $17,500 All Inclusive destination wedding package contest.
Kelly Maxwell, wedding coordinator, at Seven Sycamores came up with the idea for the contest and convinced her other local wedding suppliers to partner in giving away this package. The prospective bride and groom not only receive the beautiful Seven Sycamore outdoor venue for their April 2011 nuptials but also receive the bridal gown, decorated cake, wedding photographer, flowers, DJ, party rental fixtures, full catering for the event plus a romantic night at a local B & B. Another words – the wedding will be FREE to the couple.
Entries are now being accepted through May 31, and the winner will be announced at the ranch on June 19. There is one catch – you must be present to win. Kelly, and all the service providers will be on the ranch that day available to answer any questions regarding wedding planning and to show their services.
Bridal industry experts now tell us that having your wedding on a farm has become a top trend for prospective couples in choosing the site to hold their nuptials. By the way, I have been to Seven Sycamores and am very impressed with how they have created a magical place to have a wedding in the midst of a large, fragrant orange grove.
If you would like to check out the details for the FREE $17,500 Farm Wedding Package just CLICK HERE.
Otherwise, if California is not a convenient location for your wedding then visit www.ruralbounty.com. This is a farm and ranch directory that shows all types of agritourism activities available on farms today - including weddings.
Mississippi Agritourism Association Hosts Annual Meeting
Cathy & Mike May,Lazy Acres Plantation
Last weekend I was pleased to participate in the Mississippi Agritourism Association annual meeting at Lazy Acres Plantation in Chunky, MS. Jo Lynn Mitchell of Mitchell Farms and Stanley Wise helped to organize and put together the day.
We were hosted by Cathy and Michael May of Lazy Acres Plantation, and met in their new group rental building they named Plantation Hall. It was a perfect setting for the presentation, mini-trade show and lunch for the near 80 attendees.
I’m always pleased to speak to new audiences and this meeting attracted farmers from the four neighboring states of GA, AL, AR & LA. My talk featured steps to Growing & Marketing, and Agritourism Business. Based on the feedback and questions presented to me, this audience was eager for the information and ready to go home and implement new ideas.
Agritourism is still very much a growing industry in Mississippi but the founders and board members of the organization are ready to have it thrive. We even attracted the attention of WTOK TV from Meridian, MS which came to the meeting to film a segment for the Evening News. Getting publicity for our farms happened to be a topic of discussion and the fact that the local news station came to feature a story was truly a bonus for the day.
Eckert Family Farm Celebrates 100th Anniversary
It’s not easy for a family business to survive for seven generations but I’m proud to say that our family farm has done so – www.eckerts.com. Johann Eckert came to America with his family in 1837 to find orchard ground similar to what he had in Germany and found the perfect spot near Fayetteville, IL and he named the property Drum Hill. Since those early years the family farm has grown to mulitple orchard locations and pick your own farms in Belleville, Millstadt and Grafton, IL.
While our family started with one small farmhouse and orchard ground the business has grown into a much larger orchard operation. The start of our agritourism business began in 1910 when we opened a farm stand. Now, 100 years later we are looking to expand our retail with a brand new country store and doubling the size of our restaurant to 400 seats. In fact, our local Public Television Station KETC ”LIving St. Louis” program just produced a video on the farm now posted on You Tube.
The goal of Eckert Farms is to “create family memories” and to preserve the family traditions that customers have come to count on over the years. It is not easy today for family farms to succeed but with sound marketing ”agritourism” farms are thriving across North America and beyond.
To assist you in your search for agritourism farms just go to RuralBounty.com
