2016 South Carolina Ag + Art Tour: Darlington County June 4 & 5
Mark your calendar, readers!
The South Carolina Ag + Art Tour is a free, self-guided tour of farms and artisans to provide visitors the opportunity to see first-hand where their food comes from, watch artists in action and purchase their works, dance to the melodies of bluegrass and folksongs, and learn more about rural life. The Tour is the largest free farm tour in the nation with over 20,000 visitors participating since 2012.
The 2016 Tour will be bigger and better than ever, covering 9 South Carolina counties over 4 weekends of fun!
• Chester County
• Chesterfield County
• Darlington County
• Fairfield County
• Horry County
• Kershaw County
• Lancaster County
• Union County
• York County
The Tour will run 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays and from 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. on Sundays each weekend in June. There is no admission fee!
How to Enjoy the Tour
Step 1: Pick a weekend (or several) and plan your tour; with nine counties over four weekends there is sure to be something for everyone to enjoy!
Step 2: Choose several tour sites to visit, being aware that you might not be able to see everything in one day. Start anywhere – the tour is self-guided and there is no admission charge!
Step 3: Load up your car with your friends and family and begin your tour! Bring a cooler and pick up some fresh veggies, let your kids enjoy a hay-ride and barnyard animals, watch artists in action and enjoy a day in the country!
Step 4: Be sure to visit the Ag + Art Tour Information table at your first tour stop to sign-in. Be sure to use #agandarttour in all of your social media check-ins!
What does “Ag” stand for?
Ag is for Agriculture, representing the farms and farmers market component of the tour!
Is it really FREE?
Yes, there is no admission fee to take the tour; however, there will likely be a charge to purchase food, beverages and farmer’s and artisan’s products. Some activities may also have a cost.
Where do I start the tour?
The tour is free and self-guided. Start anywhere and begin your weekend(s) of farm and art fun! Be sure to sign in at your first stop EACH WEEKEND, and make sure you are counted as you move from farm to farm.
Schedule:
Area 1: Saturday, June 4 – Sunday, June 5
Chesterfield County, Darlington County, Horry County
Area 2: Saturday, June 11 – Sunday, June 12
Lancaster County, York County
Area 3: Saturday, June 18 – Sunday, June 19
Fairfield County, Kershaw County
Area 4: Saturday, June 25 – Sunday, June 26
Chester County, Union County
Darlington County Kickoff Event: Wine + Cheese meets Ag + Art
Wednesday, June 1st 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
RetroFit Sip-N-Seat, 152 Mantissa Row
Hartsville. Tickets are $25
Learn more at: www.agandarttour.com
Darlington County Featured Ag + Art Locations:
D1. Clemson University Pee Dee Research and Education Center
2200 Pocket Road Florence
Over 2,300 acres of crops (corn, cotton, peanuts, soybeans, sorghum), and a large variety of vegetables, turfgrass, and newer bioenergy crops, gardens, forests and wildlife habitat, ponds and wetlands, a 150-acre lake, and an interpretive nature trail. 800 acres are used for research on improved crops to benefit SC’s economy.
Special Activities:
Guided tour of Outdoor Education Trail: Saturday, June 4 at 10 a.m.
Talk “The Importance of Natural Areas
Saturday, June 4 at 11:00 a.m.
Wildlife Track Casting Activities
Saturday, June 4 at 11:00 a.m.
(limited to first 25 visitors)
Guided tour of PDREC Research Crops
Saturday, June 4 at 2:00 p.m.
Guided Kayak Paddle
Sunday, June 5 at 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. (first come first served)
Guided tour of Outdoor Education Trail
Sunday, June 5 at 3:00 p.m.
Artisan on Site:
• Stephanie Nix, Painter, Book Binding
D2. Coker Farms National Historic Landmark
1257 S. Fourth Street Hartsville
A working farm as well as a national historical landmark dedicated to preserving the history of agriculture and the contributions of Coker’s Pedigreed Seed Company through the pioneering plant breeding efforts of David R. Coker and others.
Artisans on Site:
• Black Creek Watercolor Group, Watercolor Painting
D3. Greensward Vineyard
2181 High Hill Road Darlington
Explore daily farm/vineyard operations, and be sure to come back later for blueberries and muscadines.
Artisans on Site:
• Aubree Ross, Grace Ross, Pottery
D4. Kalmia Gardens
1624 W. Carolina Avenue, Hartsville
A 35-acre public botanical garden and historic house (on the National Register of Historic Places). A wide array flora and fauna marks the gateway to the 796-acre Segars-McKinnon Heritage Preserve.
Artisans on Site:
• Lesha Petty, Pat Singletary
D5. Le Farm
1452 E. Bobo Newsom Hwy., Hartsville
An all organic sustainable farm on 4.15 historic acres, with a southern plantation home, c. 1868, surrounded by camellias, japonicas and live oaks that are hundreds of years old. Grows blueberries, figs, pecans, and muscadines. Intoxicating scent from the lavender gardens. Fresh produce, magnolia and camellia plants, herbs and grapevine wreaths will be available on the tour for purchase- and smoothies if the blueberries are ready!
Special Activities:
Tours of the Plantation Home and Gardens
Sat., June 4 and Sun June 5 at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Artisan on Site:
• Theresa Gaylord, Painter
D6. Rogers Brothers Farm
1901 East Carolina Avenue, Hartsville
Farms 8,000+ acres of cotton, peanuts, soybeans, wheat and corn. Visitors can see the Rogers Farm high-tech farm equipment, fields, and crops being planted. The family also grows, packages and sells roasted peanuts, which are available in seven flavors at the farm and sold across the Southeast.
Artisans on Site:
• Darlington County Photography Club, Photography
D7. Teal Farms
298 Cat Pond Road, Patrick
Organic tobacco farm with a beautiful old tobacco barn.
Special Activities:
General talk about tobacco farming and rides into the field, on-going
Artisans on Site:
• Caroline Cannerella, Jessie Childs
