For Loudoun’s Agriculture Entrepreneurs, a Chance to Eat, Drink and Be Mentored
Agriculture entrepreneurs are invited to attend the Forum for Rural Innovation Twilight Tour on Tuesday, September 9 from 5 – 8:30 p.m. at Fields of Athenry Farm, located at 38082 Snickersville Turnpike in Purcellville, Virginia. This educational event is $35 and includes dinner; register by September 2 by contacting Cassie Walls at 703-737-8458 or Cassie.Walls@Loudoun.gov.
Elaine Boland, owner of Fields of Athenry, will present innovative approaches to marketing and production, along with a discussion on how a local farm tackles food-handling requirements. Backroom Brewery owner Billie Clifton will discuss why she decided to expand Sunflower Cottage Herb Farm to include an on-farm brewery. Clifton will explain what it takes to open a brewery and what she did to overcome regulatory hurdles.
“We’re very proud of these Loudoun entrepreneurs who are using innovative strategies to succeed in a very competitive market. Elaine and Billie have a lot of hard-earned insight to share with other small business owners who’d like to replicate their success,” said Loudoun Agricultural Development Officer Kellie Hinkle.
Fields of Athenry raises beef, pork, lamb and poultry, and operates an on-farm kitchen. The business features weekly home delivery of farm products; a farm shop for direct sales, and a monthly farm-to-table patio service. In addition, preordered meals are available using farm-raised products. Backroom Brewery is a boutique brewery located on Sunflower Cottage Herb Farm near Front Royal, VA, specializing in beer made from farm-grown hops and herbs.
Dinner will be prepared by Fields of Athenry and will showcase entrees prepared using local farm products. Tasting samples from Backroom Brewery will also be available.
The Forum for Rural Innovation Twilight Tour is a cooperative educational effort by the offices of Cooperative Extension and Agricultural Economic Development in Loudoun, Fauquier and Clarke counties of Virginia; Jefferson and Berkeley counties, West Virginia; The Town of Berryville, and The Small Business Development Center of the Eastern Panhandle.