Farming, tourism and . . . gratitude

Good weather prevailed for the fourth annual Rappahannock County Farm Tour, and thanks to widespread support from the Rappahannock community – including businesses and organizations with a direct part in the weekend as well as local residents who attended – it was a great success.

We especially appreciate the generosity of our 23 sponsors whose generous financial and inkind donations helped underwrite the costs associated with hosting and marketing the tour. We thank the 18 venues – farms, orchards, wineries, plant nurseries, student farm programs and farm-related markets that worked hard to prepare a fun and educational weekend for tour-goers. Thank you to the 20 businesses and community environmental organizations that participated in the All Things Rappahannock Market at the Sperryville Schoolhouse, and to the volunteers who staffed the three ticket sales locations during the weekend. Thank you to Stonyman Gourmet Farmer for hosting a Fall Harvest Supper as a benefit event for the tour.

Thank you to those on our planning committee who worked for months to plan and promote the Farm Tour weekend – honorary chair Mike Peterson, Kenner Love, Beth Hall, Jed Duvall, Melanie Kopjanski, Molly Peterson, Jim Offutt, both Candy Wroth and Sandra Maskas representing the Office of Tourism, and our creative designer Kim Bealle, who produced our program, website and ads.

Thank you to Rappahannock News and Flavor magazine who helped us get the word out – and to individuals like Mike and Molly Peterson, who helped us spread the word online through Facebook and other social media platforms. Through our multifaceted marketing and media campaign, the tour drew many visitors from around the Northern Virginia and greater D.C. area.

Thank you to our many Rappahannock County fans who attended the tour! By the way, if you didn’t have a chance to go on the tour, you can read about it at farmtour.visitrappahannockva.com or stop by the Visitors Center for a Farm Tour program.

Coinciding with the Farm Tour was the Sesquicentennial Committee’s Civil War Heritage Day, also a great success, and Sperryville’s first Fourth Friday merchants event. It was a terrific weekend for both visitors and locals alike to enjoy some of the many facets of Rappahannock County as a truly unique and amazing travel destination.

Agriculture and tourism are the county’s two primary industries – the Rappahannock Farm Tour brings both together in a way of which we can all be proud.

LAURA OVERSTREET

Tourism coordinator

Rappahannock County