Event required extensive planning
In person, an event like the North Georgia Ag Expo felt relaxed and festive.
But the logistics to get the Friday, March 14, event off required a great deal of work from the Gilmer Chamber of Commerce (COC).
“There’s a lot that happens in this small community,” COC President Kyle Ray said.
The event was the first of its kind.
And it experienced remarkable success. According to cell phone data, about 377 people attended over the day. It’s likely that the real numbers were even larger, given that children were in attendance too.
“It showcased a lot of stuff,” he said.
Agriculture is one of the cornerstones of Gilmer’s economy.
“We all want to make sure we always have our farmers and local grown food,” Ray said.
A strong local farm industry ensures that the county has reliable food sources and helps preserve Gilmer’s culture.
“We put [the event] on for everybody to realize their food isn’t growing in the grocery store at Ingles. There’s a farmer behind it,” he said.
Apple orchards, pork, beef, vineyards, vegetables and more help make Gilmer both beautiful and productive, Ray said.
As Gilmer’s tourism economy grows, it’s likely that local farmers will connect their businesses to tourism.
“The trajectory is still very positive for agriculture, but we do have to guard it,” Ray said.
The Ag Expo brought in many small producers, but it has lots of room to grow.
“We had a couple of farm places I can think of that were not able to be there,” he said.
Agriculture requires a mix of tested techniques and new technology. And Gilmer farmers bring both.
“We’re looking to continue the event every year,” he said.