By Steve Flairty
NKyTribune columnist
If you and yours are looking for an engaging summer day in the Northern Kentucky countryside, here’s something that might well be for you. It’s the Campbell County Backroads Farm Tour, taking place this Saturday, July 18, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The annual event, sponsored by the Campbell County Conservation District (CCCD) since 2009, promises “unique, educational, cultural, and family fun” activities, according to CCCD manager, Patti Dischar. There are nineteen available stops on the driving tour, and they cover addresses in the areas of Camp Springs, California, Butler, Alexandria, and Wilder.
Pendleton County also has a farm tour, and in recent years, Kenton County has had one modeled after Campbell’s.
In developing the tour’s program for Campbell County, CCCD looks for specific things, explained Patti. “We go out and find anybody in the county that has used our local cost share program to complete a best management practice with us; or is a producer who wants to educate the community about local foods, the viability of farms and to keep them going and protect that farmland.”
With that, the nineteen presenters listed on the CCCD’s website, along with addresses and a map, present a diversity of interests for visitors. Those offered are winemaking (including meads and cider), organic vegetable growing and general produce, equine farming, beef farming, flower growing (with a u-pick experience), a 213-acre conservation “laboratory,” antique farm machinery, and a farm that uses minimal space for high productivity.
And at the Camp Spring Tavern, “built in 1865 by German farmers using locally made leftover bricks from the St. Joseph Camp Springs Church,” visitors can stop by and learn about the rich history of settlers in the area.
One stop in the southern part of Campbell County is the Casson Ahrman Farm, which focuses on beef and hay production. It’s located on 661 Kenton-Station Road, near Grant’s Lick, and the hosts will certainly be ready for those on the tour after taking last year off because of construction related to a barn that had gone down. “I’ll be spending a week getting things ready for the tour,” said Alan Ahrman, who, with his wife, Peggy, own the farm.
They’ll have plenty to share with visitors, both educating and offering some fun, too. “We have a multi-faceted operation here with cow-calf, backgrounding for freezer beef that starts going to the processor starting in August,” said Alan. “We explain that whole process to them, and we take them on a hayride back in the pasture so they can see the cows and calves. Those same calves in the pasture will be in the same tent upfront to be freezer beefs next year.”
Do you have a problem with critters getting your vegetables? You might stop by the Mason Greenhouse, on 13369 Fisher Road. That’s where former Campbell High School teacher Rich Mason has successfully used raised gardens and greenhouses to shield their family’s produce plantings from wildlife. Rich will share how one can use relatively inexpensive materials to create similar protection.
And if you’re into the countryside retro scene, a visit to the Licking Valley Antique Machinery Association might be interesting. It’s located at 13169 Alexandria Pike.
Is it possible to visit all nineteen of the tour stops within the 9-3-time frame? “It would be tough if you did,” noted Patti Dischar. Because of the wide range of choices available, with some overlapping, visitors can look over the program and make a plan before starting. “You might not want to go to all the wineries,” Patti said, “(or) you might not care to go to a farm for produce, but you might want to go to the flower farm and pick a bouquet. A lot of the current stops are on there year after year.”
Patti, who has been CCCD’s manager for five years, emphasized the main purpose for the Campbell County Backroads Farm Tour. “What is really important is being able to come out to the country to learn about the natural resources in our county and how we can sustain them.”
The event is free, but there will be opportunities to purchase items at certain stops. To see the tour itinerary and map for the event, visit campbellkyconservation.org and for further details email Patti Dischar at patti.dischar@campbellkyconservation.org.
