LEBANON, Mo. – The Laclede County Commission is pleased to announce the inaugural Laclede County Commission Agriculture Tour. The tour, a one-day event organized by University of Missouri Extension in Laclede County, will feature farms and similar locations to highlight the importance of agricultural production in Laclede County.

“We have been working closely with MU Extension to develop ideas on activities to boost interest in agritourism in Laclede County,” said Randy Angst, Laclede County presiding commissioner. Angst announced the event with fellow commissioners David Layman and Darrell Pollock. “The Commission Ag Tour is the result of this collaboration, and we hope it will become an annual educational event for our county,” Angst said.

The inaugural Laclede County Commission Ag Tour is an invitation-only experience tentatively set for October 2023. It is intended to connect county, city, state and national decision-makers and other stakeholders with Laclede County citizens directly involved in agriculture while emphasizing the local impact of legislation on agriculture. The tour is being organized by Laclede County MU Extension specialists Allison Gunter and Ashley Brown.

“Agritourism is a significant path for economic development in Missouri,” said Brown. “We are thrilled the commission has agreed to join forces with MU Extension to create this customized experience intended to increase public awareness of all the rich and varied agricultural production specific to Laclede County.”

The inaugural tour will begin and end in Lebanon, with stops at up to six farming locations within Laclede County. Highlights include stops at Community Greenhouse Farms and The Bistro, where owner and chef Ford Martin will give a tour and prepare a farm-to-table luncheon. MU Extension is currently seeking unique and established locations to serve as other key stops on the tour. For more information, contact Ashley Brown at allen-browna@missouri.edu.