Illinois Agritourism

The workshop targets issues in the recreational hunting industry affecting landowners, outfitters and hunters. Learn how to start or improve a natural resource based business from those who are successful in the fee hunting industry. The workshop will answer many questions for landowners and outfitters regarding liability, insurance, deer herd management, land management, marketing and business management. Networking opportunities among landowners, outfitters and others are another benefit of the workshop, and one reason many past attendees keep coming back.

The deadline for advance registration is Friday, February 22, 2008. Registration is $35 per person. After Feb. 22, the registration fee is $40 per person. Make checks payable and mail to: Prairie Hills RCD, 321 W. University Drive, Macomb, IL 61455. For more information please call Prairie Hills RCD at 309-833-4747, check their website www.prariehillsrcd.com under current events, or contact the University of Illinois Fulton County Extension office at 309-547-3711.

Fee hunting can be an option for additional income for landowners. Learn about leasing, outfitting options, liability, marketing, habitat management, etc. Lunch served at 12 noon. Pre-registration required.

Time:

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM Sign In
9:00 AM- 12:00 PM Program

Presented by:

• Illinois SBDC at U of I Extension
• Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce

Speaker:

Al Luchetti, MBA
Director, SBDC
Extension Educator, Small Business Management

SBDC Registration Fee:

$20 per person - check or money order
Payable to: U of I Extension

Workshop Topics:

• Reasons for Starting Your Business
• Evaluation: Do You Have What It Takes?
• Home Based Business Criteria
• Sources of Funding
• Understanding Your Market
• Types of Ownership
• Naming & Registering Your Business

To Register:

(217) 875-4004
sbdc@extension.uiuc.edu
Advance registration requested

The 2007 Illinois Specialty Crops and Agritourism Conference, held January 11-13 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield, featured a major addition to our traditional program, as the Agricultural Tourism Partners of Illinois joined this year’s conference. This addition, along with excellent programs in our traditional breakout sessions, an absolutely full trade show, and great attendance, made the 2007 conference a great place to be – even if the weather made for challenging travel on the way home on the 13th.

The Illinois Specialty Crops and Agritourism Conference will be held January 9-12, 2008, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield, IL. Pre-conference workshops (concurrent) will be offered Wednesday, January 9 highlighting the use of "High Tunnels and Greenhouse for Extending Seasons and Increasing Markets," and a second workshop on "Growing Grapes in Illinois."

On Thursday and Friday, January 10-11, the conference will kick off with Charlie Touchett, Executive Director, North American Farmers Direct Marketing Association, as the keynote speaker followed by the traditional concurrent breakout sessions on fruits, vegetables, herbs, and agritourism with an additional track of programming on marketing, risk management, legal issues, and labor. Friday evening will feature a banquet followed by the announcement of the annual cider contest winners and comments from Andrew McCrea, Oscar-winning syndicated radio broadcaster.....popular author...farmer and rancher."

New to the 2008 conference will be a local foods program entitled "Buy Local - Eat Healthy" on Saturday, January 12, 2008. The program will feature Chef Michael McGreal, Joliet Junior College, who will demonstrate the preparation of delicious and exciting dishes that use fresh produce. Other sessions by Extension Educators, U of I, will include when to expect your produce to be available, what produce to use for specific uses, and how to store and handle what you buy.

The 19th Annual Cider Contest and the 6th Annual Hard Cider Contest will again be held in conjunction with the conference. For more information about the cider contests, contact Dr. Elizabeth Wahle, U of I Extension, PH: 618/692-9434; FAX: 618/692-9808; E-mail: wahle@uiuc.edu.

To receive registration materials or to obtain exhibitor information, please contact Diane Handley at 309/557-2107 or handley@ilfb.org . A detailed conference agenda can be viewed at www.specialtygrowers.org. The Crowne Plaza Hotel is reserving a block of rooms for $79 per night plus tax. Please call the hotel directly at 217/529-7777 to make your reservations, and ask for the Illinois Specialty Crops Conference rate.

Contact: Tom Benjamin, RC&D Coordinator
Phone: 217.253.5466
Fax: 217.253.5466
Email: tom.benjamin@il.usda.gov