2025 Farm Tour & Conference
You’re invited!
The 2025 Farm Tour and Conference has an exciting agenda planned for our attendees. Our annual meeting with educational breakout sessions, networking opportunities, industry trade show & expo will be held at the Hilton Raleigh North Hills.
February 23 – 25, 2025
Exhibitors/Sponsors – Sign Up Now!
Please submit your Exhibitor Registration Information by December 20. 2024 for the information to be included in our conference booklet and sponsorship banners.
NC-ANA Conference Scholarships available ($300 value)
Primary consideration:
Farmers new to Agritourism.
Students enrolled in agriculture-related curriculum.
Farms developing legacy plans to include the next generation.
Applications are due by January 6, 2025
Sign up to Attend Now!
Membership is required to attend the 2025 Farm Tour and Conference.
If you are already a member, click on one of these “Sign In” links. If you have not received login information from us, click on “Need a password?” and enter the email address you likely used for your membership in the past.
If you have not already renewed your membership for 2024/2025, you will be prompted to renew your membership before registering for the event.
Not a Member? Sign up here
Hotel Information
Hilton Raleigh North Hills (Raleigh, NC)
Group Rate: $139.00 + tax
Reservations: Individual reservations can be made by calling 1-800-HILTONS and referencing the group code NCANA2 or
***Please note that if you choose not to stay on all of the contracted dates, you must click “Edit Stay” at the top of the booking page and change the dates before making the reservation.
Cutoff date: January 31, 2025 (the last day to book a room at the NC-ANA discounted rate)
Hilton Raleigh North Hills
Agenda
Sunday, February 23, 2025
4:00 pm
Check In at the Hotel
Hilton Raleigh North Hills
Monday, February 24, 2025
7:30 am – 7:50 am
Farm Tour: Registration Open
Pick up your name badge in the hotel lobby before boarding the buses
8:00 am – 5:30 pm
Farm Tour
- Howling Cow Dairy Eduction Center & Creamery (Raleigh, NC)
- 2 Blue Birds Farm (Raleigh, NC)
- Jordan Lake Farms (Apex, NC)
- Cloer Family Vineyards (Apex, NC)
- Po Hous Farm (Apex, NC)
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Networking Social with Exhibitors & Attendees
Refreshments & Heavy hors d’oeuvres provided
Capital Ballroom – Salon AB
Tuesday, February 25, 2025
7:00 am – 4:30 pm
Registration Open
Capital / Boxwood
7:00 am – 7:30 am
Continental Breakfast, Coffee/Juices – with Exhibitors
Capital Ballroom – Salon AB
7:30 am – 8:15 am
Welcome from Senior Associate Dean, Dr. Megan Jacob
CALS – Association Dean for Extension
Capital Ballroom
9:15 am – 10:15 am
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Capital Ballroom – Salon F
Legal Updates: New Farm Bill, Liability Warning Signs and Zoning
Andrew Branon
Attorney, Associate Extension Professor with the Agricultural and Resource Economics Department in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, NCSU
Capital Ballroom – Salon G
Sowing Success: Agritourism Essentials for Newcomers
Alma Galloway
Maze Craze at Galloway Farm
10:15 am – 10:45 am
Morning Break, Exhibitors and Silent Auction
Grand Ballroom Pre-function area
10:45 am – 11:45 am
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Capital Ballroom – Salon F
Mediation & Succession Planning
Bob Holbert
Mediation Director, Ag Mediation NC & VA,
Western Carolina University
Capital Ballroom – Salon G
21 Secrets Creating $10 per guest Food Sales at your Farm
Mike Holzman
Profitable Food Facilities Worldwide
11:50 am – 1:00 pm
Lunch, Commissioner Steve Troxler, followed by the Annual Business Meeting
Capital Ballroom
1:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Extra time with Exhibitors!
Silent Auction ends at 3:00pm
Capital Ballroom – Salon AB
1:35 pm – 2:35 pm
GENERAL SESSION
State of the State: Challenges and Statewide Initiatives
Panel:
Carol Kline
Hospitality & Tourism Management Program Director, Professor, Appalachian State University
Wit Tuttell
Director, Visit NC, Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina,
Erica Calderon
Agritourism Marketing Specialists, NCDA&CS
Kevin P. Franklin
President, Randolph County Economic Development Corporation
Capital Ballroom – Salon CDE
2:30 pm – 3:00 pm
Afternoon Break, Final Time to Visit Exhibitors
Capital Ballroom – Salon AB
3:05 pm – 3:35 pm
Growing Success: Advancing Agritourism in NC
Carla Barbieri
Professor, Agritourism & Societal Well-being Lab, Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management, NC State University
Capital Ballroom – Salon – CDE
3:35 pm – 3:50 pm
Farmer’s Spotlight
Ann Marie Thornton
James Creek Cidar House, Cameron, NC
Capital Ballroom – Salon – CDE
3:50 pm – 4:20 pm
Marketing on Any Scale: Strategies to Grow, Re-engage, and Build Loyal Agritourism Visitors
Erica Calderon
Agritourism Marketing Specialist, NCDA&CS
Capital Ballroom – Salon – CDE
4:20 pm – 4:30 pm
Raffle Drawing & Silent Auction Winners
Capital Ballroom – Salon – CDE