Agriculture and art tour coming to Richland County

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Painters, potters, weavers, quilters, musicians, storytellers, bakers and other local artisans are invited to apply to be featured in the annual S.C. Ag + Art Tour, which comes to Richland County in June.

The deadline for artisan applications is 5 p.m. Friday, April 28. Artisans can learn more and apply to participate at www.agandarttour.com/for-artisans.

Now in its 12th year, the Ag + Art Tour — a free, self-guided farm tour that features local artisans at each site — seeks to educate people about where their food and fiber products come from while introducing them to local artisans. For purposes of the tour, artisans are defined as those who hand-craft products without using kits or commercial models and whose primary components are not manufactured.

“One of our goals has been to give people a better knowledge of what is produced in their backyard and help them to support local businesses while making healthier food choices,” said Will Culler, an agribusiness agent with Clemson Cooperative Extension and director of the S.C. Ag + Art Tour. “This event does that by putting food and product with a face.”

Eleven counties, including Richland, will host Ag + Art tours on separate weekends in 2023, with Richland County hosting June 10-11. Tours run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays.

Artisans who are accepted for the tour can sell their products at tour sites. They can also participate in Ag + Art Tour weekends in multiple counties.

Richland County’s 2023 Ag + Art Tour will feature 15 farm- and art-related sites including The Congaree Milling Co., Crooked Cedar Farm, Doko Farm, Fabel Farms, Farm at Senate’s End, Gardener’s Outpost, Harbison State Forest, Lewis + Clark, Mill Creek Greenhouses, Mr. Bunky’s Market, One Hubcap Farm LLC, Rosewood Public Orchard, Sal’s Ol’ Timey Feed & Seed, Sustainable Carolina Garden and Uhuru Farm.

The S.C. Ag + Art Tour is coordinated by county-level planning teams led by Clemson University Cooperative Extension. The Richland Soil and Water Conservation District administers the Richland County Ag + Art Tour with the support of Richland County, the County’s Conservation Commission and a number of public and private sponsors.

“We are excited about this chance to showcase local artisans alongside local farmers and farm businesses,” said Chanda Cooper, committee chair for the Richland County tour and Richland County’s conservation education analyst. “We hope this tour will allow the artisans, farmers and farm businesses to develop new relationships with customers, increase sales, and raise awareness about local food and timber production in our community.”

More information about the Richland County Ag + Art Tour is available online. A complete list of participating counties and tours is also available online.