The Farm Tour, 6th annual, for ne tn

Farms and Front Porch Hospitality during the 6th Annual Regional Farm Tour for Northeast Tennessee

In partnership with more than 20 family farms across the Northeast Tennessee region, the Appalachian Resource Conservation & Development Council (ARCD) has announced the
6th Annual Regional Farm Tour and Concert for Saturday June 21.

If you are looking to see behind the scenes of area farms, and experience our region’s beauty, bounty and rural entrepreneurship, this is your opportunity, all while supporting the ARCD’s mission of local food and farms for all.
After the Farm Tour, ARCD is hosting an evening concert at Whispering Oaks Farm, Gray, 5:00-8:00pm, with the newly touring The Barefoot Movement, a progressive acoustic group. Leaders Noah Wall and Tommy Norris developed their start at East TN State University’s Bluegrass Old Time and Roots Music Program. Craft beer, beverages, and food trucks will also be on site.

The opening act will be Johnson City native Camden Benoit, winner of the ARCD’s Love For Land songwriting contest.

“After the Farm Tour,” says Emily Bidgood, organizer of the event with ARCD, “the
invitation is to wind down the day in a relaxed celebration with great local music and a
community of people who love the land and support the greater mission of local food for
all.”

The Farm Tour includes more than 20 farms this year. As in past years, each farm will
showcase what they do best, such as a guided or self-guided tour, demonstrations,
prepared foods, hands-on experiences, and farm animal encounters. Many will have local
farm goods for sale. Since there is an abundance of farms participating across a wide
geography, farm tourists choose their schedule and route. All come away knowing their
local farmer, learning where their food comes from. Tour is from 1:00PM – 5:00PM.

One farm who has participated multiple times is Horse Creek Farm, in Chucky. According to
Emmy Armstrong, “In previous years we had dairy cows to show, but I feel like we were
mostly talking about our future plans. This year, I have something better to offer and we’re
excited to have people out to see what’s new.” Little Lou’s Creamery is the newly opened
addition to the farm: a full café and ice cream parlor. Their farm store has local products
from various regional farms. “We haven’t stopped making plans,” laughs Armstrong. “We’ll
show guests how we are working on the process of bottling our milk and making products
with it.”

One new farm is Alethia Fields cut flower farm, Bluff City. Operator Tina Gregg cites,
“Having people come out to see us in person is one of our favorite things. We love to see
the transformation on their faces as they see our flowers and sheep and pastures. People
are a little bit disconnected these days. We provide a way to get off phones, get outside,
spend time in nature and with each other.”

Spending time in nature and with each other while supporting local farms is the mission
of the Regional Farm Tour and the ARCD.

Brand new farms include Faithful Fields (Johnson City), The Stickley Farm (Kingsport),
Knob Creek Winery & Museum (Johnson City), Eden’s Vista (Gray), Spade & Spoon
(Johnson City), Butterfield Farm (Limestone), Two Roots Alpacas (Greeneville), and This
Cob House (Greenville).

Volunteers are needed. Volunteers receive a T-Shirt and their choice of complimentary
farm tour ticket (for someone else) or farm concert ticket. See arcd.org/farmtour for sign
up information.

A Tour+Concert car pass is $70, which covers everyone in the car for both events. A Tour
only car pass is $25, which covers all people in car, 1-5pm. A Concert only individual
ticket is $25 per person. Load up your car and with friends and family and save.
The Regional Farm Tour is made possible by lead music sponsor Meade Tractor and
Serenity Knoll Farm, and supporting sponsors West Hills Tractor, Farm Bureau Gray,
Farm Credit and Rural First, Blackburn Childers & Steagall. The Farm Tour is funded by a
grant from the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service. If
you would like to learn more about Appalachian RC&D Council or how to find more local
food and farms in northeast Tennessee, please visit arcd.org, email emily@arcd.org, or
call 423-722-8708. ###