Honeysuckle Hill Farm

 

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Video Transcript

Chuck Denney (UT Institute of Agriculture)
Call it the quiet before the barn storm. Honeysuckle Hill Farm has no visitors this day, but that’s about to change. They’re preparing for an onslaught of people, and there’s a ton of work to do.

Jeff Alsup (Honeysuckle Hill Farm)
“A farmer that goes into Agri-tourism has to be able to handle all aspects of business.”

Chuck Denney
For owner Jeff Alsup, that’s planting and harvesting, including two massive corn mazes and growing 50-thousand hand-sized pumpkins for kids to pick.
But he also must do construction work, dream up creative ways to engage folks, and then market the whole shebang to school groups and the general public. Alsup got into Agri-tourism in 2003, and boy has it been successful.

Jeff Alsup
“Started as a hobby. We had 500 people come through this farm the first year. They parked in the front yard. We’ve come a long way in seven years. How many visitors last year? Roughly 40-thousand.”

Chuck Denney
Let me run those numbers by you again - 500 to 40-thousand. Alsup believes it’s because of word of mouth advertising and the variety he offers.
The focus is on Ag education, but also on fun. Among the new items this year, a jumping pillow called a “corn popper.”

Jeff Alsup
“I think the secret to success is that when folks come out here they feel they can be a kid. They can scream. They can run. They can play.”           

Chuck Denney
A recent Ag census reports more than 500 Tennessee farms are involved in agri-tourism. Sales generated from these businesses top 20 million dollars a year. For many in agriculture, this is a new and necessary way of earning living on the farm.

Megan Bruch (Center for Profitable Agriculture)
“Agri-tourism is one way that people can add value to their farm and generate increased income at the farm level.”

Chuck Denney
Megan Bruch with the Tennessee Center for Profitable Agriculture works with many farm operators to develop side ventures. Agri-tourism is year-round, but operations like Honeysuckle Hill are especially concentrated on fall activities.

Megan Bruch
“People are in the mood for pumpkins and mums, for fall products, and the weather gets nice. It’s nice to get outside and enjoy some time with your family.”

Chuck Denney
Agri-tourism isn’t for everyone, but it is a new reality of making a living with land. This is a prime example here - a farm that’s built to entertain.

END

NOTE: You can find an Agri-tourism farm in Tennessee near you online at www.visittnfarm.com