Kansas Farm Food Tour + Giveaway

I had the extreme pleasure of attending the Farm Food Blogger tour sponsored by the Kansas Farm Bureau, The Kansas Soybean Association and the United Soybead Board. The blogger tour included me, Angela from Handmade in the Heartland, Mandy from Sugarbee Crafts, Anne from MamaDweeb, Cindy from Skip to my Lou blog, Chelsea from Whatcha Making Now, and Ariean from One Krieger Chick. These women are amazing bloggers. Be sure to stop by their sites and check them out.

The Farm Food tour was an action packed three days. We traveled all across the land of Kansas making a total of twelve stops.  I will summarize the days, But if you want to learn more about the tour in detail. Please be sure to visit my site, as over the next few weeks I’ll discuss each stop made.

• Cal’Ann Farms – Owners Jeff and Pam Meyer didn’t start in the plant business. Jeff was a traditional farmer by trade, who trading the traditional and took a chance to raise tilapia. The tilapia business took several raise to get the kinks out for the operation to run smoothly. Soon after the tilapia business was off the ground, requests for basil in came. Basil of all things, producers/grocers wanted basil. The Meyers decided to experiment with a hydroponic which allowed them to cultivate plants in a natural way. There I learned it takes about 4 weeks from seed to basil plants. The plants love music while they are growing but they aren’t a fan of heavy metal. The busiest season producing basil is the summer.

• Good Pork Farms – Mr. & Ms. Good were traditional farms, but in the early 2000’s when people begin to eat healthier their business struggled. The two were asked by a friend to send a whole hog to New York City. Unbeknownst to the Good’s it was used by Chef Batalli from the Food Network. He fell in love with their “good” pork, which lead to more (famous) people purchasing. Now the Good’s pork is raised exclusively for Heritage Foods. There I learned it takes 3 months, 3 weeks and 3 days for a piglet to make its grand entrance into the world.

 

 

• Mertz Farms – The Mertz Family farm consists of mainly soybeans and corn. We visited their amazing bed and breakfast at the Abner Allen guest house built in the 1850’s. This home was completely gutted out, yet keeping the traditional integrity of the original home. While there we enjoyed an amazing lunch catered by Little Apple Brewery.

• Sawyer Farms– the Sawyers were a young farming couple with adorable little boy. They believe in technology. As a matter of fact, they use a state of the art irrigation system to water their corn field underground. They raise cattle, soybeans, and milo. There I learned you can utilize technology not only in your everyday life but in your farmer life and be very effective. I was also amazed at his horse were trained like a household pet. We enjoyed steak and potatoes from the Sawyer Farms at Courtyard on Main, which was one of my favorite meals from the tour.

• NuLife Market – NuLife Market is a gluten-free food manufacturer who specializing in sorghum. What is Sorghum? Sorghum is an ancient grain that is gluten free and high in antioxidants. NuLife specializes in creating food products for those who are gluten-free, such as flour, grains, and brains. They are dabbling in cookies and butters as well. While there we enjoyed a lunched and learned more on how sorghum is easy to digest, adjusts perfectly in a gluten-free diet, and gluten free doesn’t mean tasteless.

• MoJo’s – Mojo’s is an expresso bar that also served lunch and pastries. These coffee connoisseurs are passionate about their beans. They desire to start a coffee shop began after the owners wife was driving 20 minutes every day to Starbucks in the next town. The owner thought, “Wait! We have a need here and the rest was history.” They specialize in amazing expressos , sandwiches, and seriously addictive pecan rolls (you’ve been warned),

• McCarty Dairy – The McCarty is a family owned dairy farm. I enjoyed how they are walked us their every process by introducing us to the cows, the milking process, and how the milk is pasteurized. Their machinery is processes in three folds – It pasteurizers the milk, makes cream, and distilled water as well.

• Gella’s – This restaurant was not only an urban chic brewery but restaurant as well. If you are looking to savor their beer, I recommend you order the sampler. It’s one pound of pure lovely liquor.

• Smokey Hill Vineyards and Winery – Smokey Hill is the largest winery in Kansas totaling 18 acres. They have 11 wines to choose from. This award winning winery is a hidden gem in Kansas. Be sure to check their website to order some amazing wines with seductively, funny, titles.

• Hank Charcuterie – What is a Charcuterie? It’s a fancy term of butcher. But this restaurant isn’t just a place to walk in and order some delicious hand carved meats. But also to sample amazing cheeses and dine on one of a kind dishes as well. I loved the idea that all of the cheese, vegetables and bread are all local. I love when local supports local.

 

What I’ve learned from the trip:

• I learned that farmers are college educated.
• Farming is much more than planting a seed, pulling weeds, and watering (It’s a science)
• Farmers risk everything on their crops and animals to reap rewards later.
• You can farm if you don’t love what you do.
• Farmer’s biggest regret is spending time away from their families, but it has to be done in order to provide a living for their families. (Work/Life Balance)

I now have a new found appreciation for farmer after learning how and where my food comes from before it hits my plate.

What am I going to do now?

After visiting the farms, I now want to learn more about my food. Where is it grown, how is it harvested, what is the processing of the food. Get ready – I’m now on a quest to find the facts about food.

 

 

I was able to attend the tour with several other local bloggers – be sure to check out social media (search for the hashtag #FarmFoodTour) and their blogs for other recaps and perspectives of the Kansas Farm Food Tour:

FashionPlate KC | Mama Dweeb | One Krieger Chick | Handmade in the Heartland

Sugar Bee Crafts | Skip to my Lou | Whatcha Makin’ Now

And one of the best parts – we get to share a little bit of Kansas with you! Each blogger on the tour gets to give away 1 basket filled with goodies from Kansas (a $100 value), so that’s 7 baskets up for grabs. With goodies such as From the Land of Kansas apron and hand crafted coffee mug, Chocolates from Cocoa Dolce, Wine from Smoky Hill Vineyards and Winery, Chocolate covered soybeans, Soybean writing pen, Kansas Living magazine, Kailey’s Ag Adventure series books, Silpat non-stick baking tray, Miniature lodge cast iron skillet, Mexican Dip Mix from Rabbit Creek, Popcorn from Cashmere Popcorn, Soy candle from Kling Family Orchards, and Salsa from Jose Peppers.

 

Use Rafflecopter below to enter the giveaway, and good luck! Big thanks to Kansas Farm Bureau, Kansas Soybean, and Land of Kansas for sponsoring the tour and giveaway. (Giveaway participants must be 21yrs+ and US Resident)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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