Agriculinary Tourism Conference
March 5, 2019
The Hotel Ithaca
8:30AM-5PM
The Tompkins County Tourism Program, in collaboration with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County and the Ithaca/Tompkins Convention & Visitors Bureau, is pleased to announce our 2019 Agriculinary Tourism Conference focused on helping farm and food venues build relationships and develop new initiatives to attract visitors and to grow revenue.
8:30AM - Check-In
9AM - Welcome
9:15 - 10:15 AM Key Note Presenters - Mindy & Oskar Vizcarro - Becker Farms
Becker Farms and Vizcarro Vineyards, located east of Buffalo, NY, is a 5th Generation family owned 340-acre working fruit and vegetable farm that sells most of their products directly to the public at their farm. Becker Farms has steadily expanded their agritourism activities to include a farm store and bakery, winery and brewery; school tours and activities for kids; event space for parties and weddings with a farm to table menu; and lodging. This provides a unique setting for visitors to connect, explore, experience, taste, shop and stay. Mindy and Oskar will talk about the evolution of their farm from when they began to a full service agriculinary tourism destination.
10:30 AM - Noon - Concurrent Sessions
Session A - Farm to Table Cuisine - Creating Successful Farmer-Chef Relationships
Our panelists of chefs and farmers will share experiences of working together to integrate seasonal produce, local meats, and artisan products into menus. Panelists will discuss logistics and tips for this unique selling arrangements.Brud Holland - FLX Made, Finger Lakes Culinary Bounty, and Fox Run Winery
Nathaniel and Emily Thompson - Remembrance Farm, Trumansburg
Heather Sandford - The Piggery, Store in Ithaca, Farms in Trumansburg and Eaton
Frank Purazzi - Northstar House, Ithaca
Andre Jacquet - Agava, Ithaca
Silas Conroy - Headwater Foods, Ontario, NY
Session B - Hosting Private Events at Your Business - Challenges and Opportunities
Private events such as weddings, present unique challenges. Panelists will discuss how to provide for client needs, accommodate caterers and other vendors, work through zoning and insurance requirements, marketing your venue, and maintaining your site's integrity as a farm or culinary business.Allison Usavage - Sweet Bough Wedding Collective, photographer
Rachel Conroy - Sweet Bough Wedding Collective & Kinship & Company
Gordie Gallup - Silver Queen Farm, venue & working farm.
Mark Renodin - Six Mile Creek Winery, venue, winery & tasting room
NOON - 1 PM - Lunch Provided
1:00 - 2:30 PM - Concurrent Sessions
Session C - Digging Deeper - Seed to Table
This panel takes the farm to table theme to a new level. Hear how plant breeders, farmers and chefs are partnering to grow and feature great tasting varieties of produce on menus. Learn from our panel of speakers who are all involved with this trend.Dr. Michael Mazourek - Row 7 Seeds, Cornell Plant Breeder
Kara Cusolito and Aaron Munzer - Plowbreak Farm, Burdett
Lisa Jonckheere and Justin Paterson - Hazelnut Kitchen, Trumansburg
Session D - Providing Overnight Accommodations at your Business
Learn about the variety of lodging being offered at farms and agri-tourism venues today from camping to platform tents, to cabins, and rooms in homes. Panelists will discuss lodging they provide, how they got started, regulations, promotion, what visitors expect, and how to manage a lodging business.Rita Rosenberg - RoseBarb Farm, Caroline
Erica Frenay - Shelterbelt Farm, Caroline
Chrys Gardener - Danby
Steve Sierigk - Hawk Meadow Farm, Mecklenburg
2:45 - 3:45 PM General Session - How to Market Your Agriculinary Tourism Business
Learn strategies and tactics for using online marketing and social media to encourage consumers to visit and spend money at your business.Dr. Cory Young - Associate Professor of Strategic Communication, Ithaca College
4:00 - 5:00 PM - Social Hour
Take advantage of this time to meet and get to know others from our region involved in agriculinary tourism. Share ideas, business cards, and cultivate new connections. 
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Golf Tournament
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Great Big Chamber Auction
See and be seen by the region’s top business executives and small business owners. The Great Big Chamber Thank You & Auction holds tremendous value to our sponsors, donors, and attendees as it is one of our most highly publicized and attended events. The Great Big Chamber Auction portion helps underwrite the events and programs that support our Chamber members. Traditional silent and live auction, networking, and nonprofit recognition awards.