Locations across county prep for Saturday’s Ag + Art Tour
Residents will have the opportunity to get a working view of some of the farmers who fill our tables with food and glasses with milk, as well as experience the work of local and regional artisans, this weekend during the Second Annual Ag + Art Tour here in Laurens County.
“It’s a chance to come experience our great farms, artisans and, of course, our hospitality is second to none,” said Christian Taylor, the marketing director for tourism for the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce.
The tour goes all day Saturday – from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. – and includes seven locations throughout the county, with about 15 artisans also participating.
The state’s Ag + Art Tour begins in early May each year and spans two full months, and this Saturday, May 17, is the busiest. Laurens County is one of six participating counties across the state, and each is listed on the website, agandarttour.com.
The website also includes details and addresses of each of the farm and tour sites in Laurens County.
“We’re excited about the tour this year,” Taylor said. “Last year we had visitors from across the Upstate and even the lower state visit as many of the farms as possible, and that’s not easy when there are so many. But you get to learn from the people making your food.”
The state event, sponsored by Clemson Extension Service, is the largest free farm tour in the country and a great way to showcase the work that goes into getting food and milk to consumers’ tables.
“Some sort of tours are available at each of the locations, and the artisans are the cherry on top because we have so much talent in the region,” Taylor said.
Host farms and sites this Saturday include two in Fountain Inn: AM- PM Farm, hosting woodworkers, jewelry and soap crafters, and Urban Roots Collective at Barefoot Acres, hosting two different painters.
LoLo Pottery studio and shop in Gray Court is also hosting a maker of quilted bags and items.
In addition to its live animal displays and nature trails, the Joe Adair Center in Laurens is hosting indigo dye demonstrations, a painter and crafters selling art stones, engraved items and handcrafted lotions and soaps.
LushAcres Farm in Clinton has farm animals and produce, as well as a painter and soap and stained glass artisans.
Waitman’s Garlic at BlackBerry Hill Farm, also in Clinton, will have a potter and candle maker, and the Will Do Jersey Farm in Kinards is hosting glass and resin artists.
See the www.agandarttour.com website for full details.
