Westphalia, KS

Can your land help promote tourism in your state?

As land professionals we wear many hats when promoting properties and one of my favorite hats to wear is Rural America Promoter. Agritourism is showing up more and more these days as people find new creative ways for the usefulness of their land. Guest or dude ranches have long been known as rural businesses but what exactly is agritourism? Agritourism uses the agriculture basis of the land to promote the area or a product to help bring in visitors. For example, corn mazes are well known form of agritourism.

So how could your land use be used for agritourism or even tourism in general? First, you must be passionate about whatever it is that you endeavor upon. Starting up a Bed & Breakfast if you like cooking, incorporating horses if you are an avid horseback rider or anything that you might already do on your land is your best place to start. Seasonal operations are the most popular ways to add some agritourism such as pumpkin patches, corn mazes or Christmas tree cuttings.

One corn maze operator became so successful at his farm corn mazes that he turned it into a whole new business. He now provides consulting services and corn maze design services to farmers all over the country.

Specialty products are one of the fasting growing areas and a good place to start. A honey farm started in a rural town in Kansas by two guys named John & Wayne turned into the John Wayne Honey farm and now they sell their specialty honey products online and at local grocers. Beekeeping might not be your thing but consider all the daily things you already do on your land. Many landowners have small orchards and some farms offer a Rent-A-Tree service for fruit picking where a family can rent a particular tree and then harvest and pick the fruit from that tree for a season.

Leasing your land for hunting or offering guided hunts are very popular with landowners that enjoy hunting. Many of these operations have blossomed into full resort lodges with restaurants and catered events. Offering trap shooting or target practice in a club setting with a clubhouse has allowed many landowners to also rent their building out for family reunions or weddings.

Wineries have been a popular option for grape growers so that they can have an end product instead of just wholesaling off their product. Most of these operations are supplemental to the main farming operation but still can provide income and help support rural areas. Many farmers offer their time to local schools and organizations for tours so they can help educate the younger generation about how food gets from farm to fork.

Many resources are available for helping you start a rural business. The USDA Rural Information Center has entire website section devoted to Promoting Tourism in Rural America.

Articles abound and a quick search will find articles about Agritourism being promoted in the state. An extensive list of ideas for agritourism for your land from Virginia Cooperative Extension and your local USDA office is a great source of information for rural business.

Think about your passions and check some resources and see if you might be able to help promote rural America with your land.

Anderson County Kansas is approximately 584 square miles with an average county population of about 8,000. Anderson County has a wonderful Development Agency and encourages small business and growth in its rural towns. The Chamber of Commerce in Garnett is great start to finding out information about the area and the Experience Garnett website provides information about local events. Also check out the Anderson County Historical Society in Garnett and the local newspaper, the Anderson County Review. Check out Cornstock an annual festival about all things related to corn that happens every year.

The County Extension Office has information on 4H and farming practices or try the local USDA Farm Service County Office for more information on Ag, Agriculture. The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks has information about Kansas recreational activities and wildlife including hunting, fishing, hiking, and boating.

One of the highlights of the county is the Prairie Spirit Trail which is about a 50 mile trail that you can hike, walk or bike ride. The trail goes through Ottawa, Princeton, Scipio, Richmond, Garnett, Welda, Colony, and Iola. It runs along Highways 59 and 169 in about 6-9 mile increments staring in Ottawa then to Princeton to Richmond to Garnett and to Welda. It is very easy to reach the Trail from Lawrence, Topeka or Kansas City and it is a great day outing on a nice day. Check out the video at the state parks website.

The towns of Anderson County include Bush City, Central, Colony, Garnett, Glenlock, Greeley, Harris, Kincaid, Lone Elm, Mount Ida, Scipio, Selma, Vance, Welda, and Westphalia.

The airports in Anderson County include the Garnett Kansas Municipal Airport and the privately owned Graham Farms Airport and the hospital is the Anderson County Hospital which is part of the Saint Luke's Health System.

The Topography and Physical Land Features of Anderson County Kansas include the Garnett City Park Dam and Lake Garnett which also has a raceway and Sporting Club at Lake Garnett which provides a gun range for shooting sports. Lakes in Anderson County Kansas include Andrews Lake, Crystal Lake, Garrison Lake, Lake Garnett, Lake Welda, Snake Lake, Spencer Lake. The creeks of Anderson County are Bradshaw, Cedar, Cherry, Driftwood, Elm, Fish, Iantha, Kenoma, Little Indian, Little Mule, Rush, Sac, Saline, Salty, Sandy, South Fork Pottawatomie, Stink, Thomas Creek. Other streams include Medicine Lodge River, Rocky Run, and Skunk Branch.

Other Kansas links include Great Plains Society of American Foresters, Kansas Alliance for Wetlands and Streams, Kansas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, Kansas Chapter of the Wildlife Society, Kansas Section of the Society for Range Management, Soil and Water Conservation Society

If you are looking for a livestock sale around the area try the Anderson County Sales Company, Parsons Livestock Market, Allen County Livestock Market or Paola Livestock Auction or visit the Livestock Marketing Association's website for live auctions in your area.

Anderson County Kansas Zip Codes: 66014 - Centerville, 66015 - Colony, 66032 - Garnett, 66033 - Greeley, 66039 - Kincaid, 66091 - Welda, 66093 - Westphalia

The Townships in Anderson County Kansas are Indian Creek, Jackson, Lincoln, Lone Elm, Monroe, North Rich, Ozark, Putnam, Reeder, Rich, Walker, Washington, Welda, Westphalia.

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For information and updates on Anderson County KS Land values including agricultural, acreages, auctions, farmland rural, recreation and hunting land please visit www.KansasLandBrokers.com