The Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce Agribusiness Committee will be hosting a bus tour of Schuylkill County farms on August 18, 2012. The bus will leave from the Schuylkill County Ag Center at 9am and will return at 3:30.

The tour will take participants to three different farms. The first stop will be to Pioneer Evergreen Farms in Orwigsburg, where the owners will discuss Christmas tree production and how agri-tainment events, such as their Fall Festival, have transformed their operation.

The second stop will take riders to Hepler Homestead Farms in Pitman. Jim and Rachel Hepler and family will host a tour of their dairy operation and educate participants on the industry and what it takes to produce the milk that is the basis for so many of the products that we love. This is a rare chance for those not involved in the industry to get a glimpse at the inner workings of a dairy farm.

The final leg of the tour will be to Jersey Acres Farm in Pine Grove. This farm also has a dairy operation, but specializes in orchard fruit, grape, and vegetable production as well. Visitors can buy fresh produce and a variety of other locally made products at their farm market. The farm is also the home of Stone Mountain Winery, where wine lovers will find a large selection of various types of grape and fruit wines.

The cost for the tour is $25/person and includes transportation and lunch at the Mahantongo Fire Hall in the scenic Pitman Valley. Any proceeds from the tour will go to the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce Agribusiness Committee to fund future events and promote agriculture education. Sign-ups for the tour will begin on July 2, and anyone interested can contact "Porcupine" Pat McKinney at570-622-4124 x 113 or Elizabeth Hinkel at 570-622-3742 x 117.

Please take advantage of this rare chance to enjoy the day riding around the beautiful countryside of Schuylkill County, and learn about our #1 industry. It is a chance to get out and see what really happens on the farm, and what "buy fresh, buy local" really means for you and for our county's farmers.