Fields of Gold Farm Trail celebrates summer success with giveaway

The Fields of Gold Agritourism program celebrated another successful summer season along the expanding Fields of Gold Farm Trail by sponsoring a giveaway featuring gift certificates from member farms and businesses.

Keith Grant, a professor of political science at James Madison University, is the Summer Ad Campaign Gift Certificate winner. Grant has been in Harrisonburg for a little over two years.  Prior to that, he lived in Pennsylvania near Valley Forge.  He is a wine enthusiast and has been slowly making his way through the many Virginia vineyards and wineries.  He is also a bit of a foodie and enjoys cooking and exploring new cuisines.  He has also recently taken up gardening as a new hobby.  Keith is excited to have been selected and looks forward to further exploring the Valley, gift certificates in tow.

Fields of Gold member businesses that donated to the give-away included Pebble Hall Wildflower Farm, Fort Valley Ranch, Bluestone Vineyard, A Better Way Goat Farm and Dairy, Friendly City Food Co-op, Blue Ridge Vineyard, Frontier Culture Museum, and the Harrisonburg Farmers Market. Over 250 people registered to win the gift certificates.

With more than 30 farmers’ markets, 12 “pick your own” farms and dozens of farm festivals and special events on tap throughout the summer and fall, the Fields of Gold Farm Trail is now home to over 200 farms that are open to the public for educational and recreational purposes. Membership on the trail has steadily increased in 2015, with more than 20 new businesses joining the program.  The trail traverses five cities and eight counties in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley.

Residents and visitors can experience everything from farm-to-table dining, barn/farmhouse lodging, wildflower and herb picking, cow milking, sheep shearing, goat milk soap making, llama trekking, wine, craft beer or cider tastings or trout fishing just to name a few activities.

For more information about the Fields of Gold program, contact Tracey Coltrain, [email protected]  (540) 885-5174 or visit www.fieldsofgold.org.