Jul 11, 2024
By Rick McNary
The inaugural Oxford Farm Tour on Saturday, June 29, was attended by more than 100 people from as far away as Kansas City who toured each of the five farms in the Oxford area. Organizers of the event all agreed the enthusiasm and number of attendees exceeded their expectations.
“Despite the extreme heat, we had a great turnout at our first farm tour,” says Kim Silhan, one of the event organizers. “It was so nice to see families travel to our little community to visit with our farmers and their families about local food production. Nothing says Kansas like a family farm and we have a great variety in our south-central area. We were very grateful for the help provided by The Border Queen Harvest Hub in planning and marketing our event, and we look forward to the next tour, possibly in September.”
The Flying Toad Farm, owned by Josh and Shayla Wheeler, had two locations in Oxford to tour; one at their home where they raise the produce and the other at their downtown retail store.
“It was amazing to see customers get an up-close look at our operation and let them know where their veggies come from,” Josh says. “Our goal is to provide the best Kansas-grown produce at a fair price, and we are striving for ways to provide homegrown produce year-round. We have come a long way, but the best is yet to come.”
Rick and Myra Jacobs, along with their entertaining dog, Colbie, gave tours around The Pecan Patch, which has 425 pecan trees of more than 15 varieties.
“We really enjoyed showing folks the orchard and farm,” Rick says. “Our dog, Colbie, ushered every tour group, entertaining each group with her leaps into the pond. People seemed very interested in the harvest process, and everyone seemed to have a favorite pecan pie recipe. Many folks shared their favorite pecan story about their childhood like when they were young, and they would travel to their grandpa's pecan grove and shake the branches with long bamboo sticks to get the pecans down.”
Torry and Lisa Kilts of Kilts Farm have a vineyard where they grow grapes that are sent to their friends Kirk and Treva Johnson of Shiloh Vineyard, a winery southwest of WaKeeney.
“Our farm tour was a success,” Lisa says. “It was very hot, but the turnout was great as more than 100 people came by to sample and purchase the wine made from the grapes we grow. Torry and I love being part of something that supports local farms and businesses.”
Rick and Ingrid Elam of Elam Lavender and Honey-Bee Farm often sit on their front porch looking out over their fields of lavender and imagine what life must have been like for Ingrid's great-grandparents who first farmed this land.
"We loved having the opportunity to collaborate with other farms in our area,” Rick says. “We had so many people from near and far come out to experience some of the lavender in bloom and learn more about what we do at our farm and things we can offer. We are very appreciative of the Border Queen Harvest Hub organization and the support they have given to all of us. We had a wonderful turnout even in 100-plus degree heat! After talking with some of the other locations on the tour, they shared similar results, which is exciting for planning something in the future. We’re looking forward to the next event with BQHH and other area farms."
These farms are a part of the Border Queen Harvest Hub (BQHH), a practical system of production, processing and distribution, which is being built to provide consumers easier access to locally grown food as well as creating economic opportunities for people who want to grow and sell the food they raise.
For more information and to find the listing of these Oxford Farms, go to www.borderqueenharvesthub.com and follow the Border Queen Harvest Hub Facebook group.
The Border Queen Harvest Hub is brought to you by Shop Kansas Farms with a generous grant from the Patterson Family Foundation.