2012 PRESS RELEASES
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September 6, 2012
FALL FUN IS JUST A CLICK AWAY
Contact: Elaine J. Lidholm, 804.786.7686
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) wants all Virginians to know that fall fun is just a click away. Through the interactive features of its website VirginiaGrown.com and on VDACS' agri-tourism page , consumers can find pick-your-own farms, farm museums, historic homes, farmers’ markets, wineries, events, festivals and vacations.
“The choices for a day or weekend trip or a full vacation are boundless,” said Matthew J. Lohr, VDACS Commissioner. “People can pick pumpkins or apples, attend a harvest festival, tour historic agricultural sites such as Mount Vernon or the (Cyrus) McCormick Farm, go horseback riding or learn to fly fish. You can even go agcaching, a form of geocaching, at several locations.” (Click here for agcaching sites.)
A quick tour of the state’s agritourism (i.e. agricultural tourism) attractions includes the following types of activities:
- Pick-your-own farms for pumpkins, apples, peaches and more
- Hay or corn mazes, hay bale mazes for pre-schoolers or mini pumpkin mazes
- Thanksgiving weekends that include cooking classes plus the feast itself
- Corn cannons, pumpkin blasters and apple launchers
- Afternoon tea
- Horseback riding
- Panning for gold
- Hayrides and wagon rides
- Cow trains
- Goat walks (aerial antics from these sure-footed creatures)
- The Virginia Carousel featuring famous Virginians and Virginia agricultural products
- Tube slides
- Concessions including hot dogs, barbeque, nachos, popcorn and kettle corn, candy, apples and drinks, including seasonal hot spiced cider
- Farm animals
- Big equipment
- Picnic areas and bonfires
- Pumpkin hunts and pumpkin painting
- In-season products for sale including apples, Indian corn, cider, honey, pumpkins, mums, fall decorations, jellies, preserves, relishes, holiday decorations and more
- Museums of tractors, antique farm equipment, antique toys, even lawn mowers
- Pedal cars to ride through the corn fields or corn maze
- Special events that range from food festivals to competitions, sorghum making, trail rides, harvests and threshing demonstrations
- Find many more suggestions at here.
“Agritourism is important to us at VDACS for many reasons,” said Lohr. “It’s a good way for small farmers to make a living at farming or for larger ones to diversify their operations. It can provide economic benefits to rural communities by bringing in visitors and creating new jobs. It keeps food dollars in the community and, let’s face it, it’s just fun. I encourage all Virginians to celebrate fall at an agritourism farm.”
VDACS posts all of its news releases on Facebook and Twitter. To receive immediate updates, follow us on Twitter@VaAgriculture or like us on facebook.com/VaAgriculture.