Loudoun County’s 25th annual Fall Farm Tour will launch in a virtual format on Saturday, October 17, 2020, continuing a tradition of connecting farmers with consumers during the harvest season. The online tour will feature more than two dozen stops at launch and is scheduled to go live at 10 a.m.
For the best touring experience, please access it on a desktop device at LoudounFarms.org/FarmTour. Consumers are encouraged to sign up for a notification email and shop the Loudoun Made Loudoun Grown Marketplace.
“This initiative follows a successful virtual Spring Farm Tour, which connected thousands of people from 16 countries with Loudoun farms during the height of the COVID-19 lockdown. It also complements our Loudoun Made Loudoun Grown Marketplace, which drives farm product sales in a socially distant way,” Loudoun Economic Development Executive Director Buddy Rizer explained. “We want to create impactful interactions for our #LoudounPossible rural businesses, and we’re thrilled to see our roster of farms double this season.”
Each of the featured farms submitted photos, videos, brief descriptions and an educational activity in order to be included in this season’s tour. All vignettes also link to the farm websites and online stores. Additional entries will be added throughout the harvest season on a rolling basis.
Here are the 25 farms that are featured on Loudoun’s Virtual Farm Tour at launch:
- American Academy of Equestrian Sciences;
- Blooming Hill Lavender Farm and Gift Shop;
- Checkmate Farm;
- Double 8 Alpaca Ranch;
- Endless Summer Harvest;
- Equine Rescue League Foundation;
- Equus CAN Educate;
- Georges Mill Farm Artisan Cheese;
- Green Hills Garden & Nursery;
- Hogback Mountain Pony Rides, LLC;
- Homestead 1870;
- Hope Flower Farm;
- Long Stone Farm, LLC;
- Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum;
- Old Apple Valley Farms, LLC;
- Paige’s Pit Stop;
- Project Horse Empowerment Center;
- Shepherds Corner Farm;
- The Community Farm at Roundabout Meadows;
- The Farm at Walnut Creek;
- The New Ag School;
- Bleu Frog Vineyards;
- Cannabreeze Organic Hemp Farm;
- Casanel Vineyards & Winery;
- Fort Bacon Farm.
“This farm tour roster marks one of the most inclusive our history, spotlighting a cross-section of Loudoun’s diverse farming industries, including traditional agriculture, equine, craft beverage and cheese makers, hemp producers, bed and breakfasts, plant nurseries, farm schools and museums, and much more,” said Loudoun’s Business Development Officer, Agriculture and Business Services John Magistro. “Virtual farm tourists are also encouraged to shop the Loudoun Made Loudoun Grown Marketplace, with convenient pickup locations throughout Loudoun County.”
Farms and rural businesses interested in appearing on the tour can email Magistro for more information at John.Magistro@loudoun.gov, or call 1-800-LOUDOUN.
The virtual farm tour will go live at 10 a.m. on Saturday morning at LoudounFarms.org/FarmTour.
