News Releases

Tennessee agritourism entrepreneurs will have three opportunities in February and March to attend marketing workshops that should help boost their sales and profitability.

"Marketing is often cited as one of the most important factors of success as well as one of the biggest challenges to an agritourism enterprise," says Megan Bruch, marketing specialist at the University of Tennessee Center for Profitable Agriculture. Bruch is coordinating the workshops.

"We have planned these workshops to teach agritourism entrepreneurs key concepts necessary for developing successful marketing strategies and materials as well as resources and tools that are available to help them market their enterprises," Bruch said.

The day-long workshops are being presented in each of the grand divisions of the state, and each will offer the same program. The first workshop will be offered February 28 in Jackson. The second workshop will be held March 9 in Cookeville, and the final workshop will be offered March 15 in Jonesborough.

Pre-registration is required one week prior to each workshop date. Cost of the workshops is $10 per participant. Lunch is included. Additional information and the registration form are available on-line at the Center for Profitable Agriculture's Web site http://cpa.utk.edu or by calling (931) 486-2777.

The workshops are among efforts sponsored by the Tennessee Agritourism Initiative partners to build farm income in the state. Initiative partners include the state's departments of Agriculture, Tourist Development, and Economic and Community Development; the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation; USDA Rural Development; the Tennessee Agritourism Association; and UT Extension. The workshops are funded in part through an agreement between the Tennessee Department of Agriculture and the Center for Profitable Agriculture.

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Contact:

Megan Bruch, Center for Profitable Agriculture, (931) 486-2777, or mlbruch@utk.edu