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Summary of Farm Fresh’s November 2005 Bus Tour to Michigan

Date: Sunday, November 6 to Thursday, November 9, 2005

Download the tour description (124KB PDF) or read the summary below.

Summary: This was Farm Fresh’s 22nd tour. Since 1987, we have been touring markets, pick-your-own operations, entertainment farms, some related businesses, and some "just plain fun" places. A few of the years we did 2 tours, and on three of the years we took 2 buses!

• Springridge - www.springridgefarm.com
  Laura, John and Tom Hughes along with Jesse Lauzon have been dedicated participants on the OFFMA Bus Tour. Now it’s their turn to be hosts.
• McCully’s Hill Farm - www.mccullys.ca
  Dave Pullen has grown McCully’s Hill Farm into a destination attraction. The property was originally settled by the McCully family in 1847.
• Uncle John’s Cider Mill - www.ujcidermill.com
  Uncle John’s farm has been in the Beck Family for over 120 years. The orchard was established by Frank Beck five generations ago.
• Robinette’s Apple Haus & Gift Barn - www.robinettes.com
  The story of Robinette Orchards demonstrates the spirit of innovation and mirrors American farming history. In 1870, Harvey O. Braman moved to Michigan from Elyris, Ohio and chose this land to grow peaches.
• Klackle Orchards - www.klackleorchards.com
  Both Gary and I went WOW, when we pulled into the parking lot of Klackle Orchards. The most predominant building being the brand new ‘Pavilion’. It’s a 24,000 sq. foot sports and events center that opened late last year.
• Anderson & Girls Orchards/Gifts - www.andersonandgirls.com
  Anderson & Girls is owned and operated by Terry and Gwen Anderson. The farm was established in 1978, shortly after their first daughter, Amy, was born.
• Pride and Country Village - www.prideandcountry.com
  Although this is not a farm market, the products and layout of this ‘village’ was so inviting we knew we had to share it with the bus tour.
• Wolcott Mill Metropark - Farm Learning Center
  The Wolcott Mill Farm Learning Center provides an opportunity for park visitors to experience first-hand the sights, sounds, smells and the feel of "life on the modern farm".
• Blake’s Orchard & Cider Mill - www.blakesorchard.com
  Blake’s Orchard and Cider Mill has been a family owned and operated farm since 1946. They now operate 3 separate locations in the Armada area consisting of approximatley 500 acres of orchards and farmland.
• Frankenmuth - "Michigan’s Little Bavaria"
  Frankenmuth was founded in 1845 by a group of fifteen German-Lutheram missionaries who came to this area for the purpose of teaching Christianity to the Chippewa Indians. Today, Frankenmuth is a thriving community of 4,900 residents who take great pride in preserving the German heritage.
• Mystery Guest Speaker
  Well known in the farm marketing and ag-tourism circle, Dorene Collins is working on two possible guest speakers to present to the tour participants. Keep your fingers crossed...maybe we’ll be able to get both of them.