Agritourism safety workshops to be offered in July

More and more people are visiting Tennessee farms to purchase farm fresh products or to enjoy some good farm fun. These farm guests may not be aware of dangers that are just part of everyday life on a farm.

“Safety and emergency preparedness are important considerations for farmers inviting people to their farms. The last thing any farmer wants is for a guest to get hurt at their operation or to be unprepared in the event an emergency,” says Megan Bruch, marketing specialist for the University of Tennessee Center for Profitable Agriculture. “We are pleased to offer these workshops to help farmers prevent, identify and fix safety hazards and prepare to handle emergencies that may occur on the farm.”

Marsha Salzwedel, an agricultural safety specialist for the National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health located in Marshfield, Wis., will be the instructor for the workshops. She will be sharing practical tips and will guide participants through hand-on activities using tools developed through her center to help farmers keep visitors safe.

The workshop will be offered in two locations and dates: July 24 at Deep Well Farm in Lenoir City, Tenn., and July 25 at Bottom View Farm in Portland, Tenn. Registration, including refreshments, will open at 8 a.m. local time and the workshop will end at 3 p.m. Lunch will be provided.

Pre-registration is required by no later than July 18, 2013. Space is limited, so you are encouraged to register as soon as possible.

Tennessee Agritourism Association members receive two free registrations per enterprise, although pre-registration is still required. The registration fee for additional members and non-members is $15 per person. Register online at https://tiny.utk.edu/ATSafety or by calling the Center for Profitable Agriculture at 931-486-2777.

These workshops fulfill a direct marketing workshop requirement for the Tennessee Agricultural Enhancement Program and are made possible through a 2013 Extension Risk Management Education Grant from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Southern Risk Management Education Center. The Tennessee Agritourism Association is also providing support for these workshops. Additional information is available on the CPA’s website ( http://ag.tennessee.edu/cpa ) or by contacting Megan Bruch at mlbruch@utk.edu or 931-486-2777.

The Tennessee Agritourism Association and Tennessee Department of Agriculture are offering an additional educational opportunity immediately following the workshop on July 25 and all day on July 26. The Summer 2013 Agritourism Extravaganza includes opportunities to participate in a team-building zip line tour, farm to table dinner and agritourism operation tours. Find more information in the events calendar at http://ag.tennessee.edu/cpa or contact Tonya Keller, Tennessee Agritourism Association president, at kellerklan@att.net or 615-441-4872.

The UT Center for Profitable Agriculture is a joint effort of UT Extension and the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation.

UT Extension provides a gateway to the University of Tennessee as the outreach unit of the Institute of Agriculture. With an office in every Tennessee county, UT Extension delivers educational programs and research-based information to citizens throughout the state. In cooperation with Tennessee State University, UT Extension works with farmers, families, youth and communities to improve lives by addressing problems and issues at the local, state and national levels.