Play, Learn and Grow at the 2010 Georgia Agritourism Conference Nov. 3-5, 2010 at the Dillard House in Rabun County, Georgia.

The conference will begin after lunch on Wednesday, November 3 and end after lunch on Friday, November 5.

Educational breakout sessions and networking opportunities highlight this year’s event. Sessions and exhibits will include relevant, current information from Agritourism experts. The schedule is designed to help entrepreneurs learn the basics of building and sustaining Agritourism enterprises including:

Business Planning

Insurance and Liability

Budgeting

Financing Options

Estate Planning

Legal Issues

Social Media

 Dan Cathy, Chief Operating Officer of Chick-fil-A, is the keynote speaker on Friday, November 5.

The conference celebrates the newly formed Georgia Agritourism Association and will include the organization’s first official meeting.

Marketing specialists from the University of Georgia Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development will discuss effective marketing strategies. Free marketing resources, like Market Maker, will be presented, as well as information on loans and financing programs.

Thursday afternoon tours of Rabun County Agritourism sites will include visits to the Kudzu Factory and Persimmon Creek Vineyards, among others.

Barbecue and a bonfire are planned for a casual Wednesday dinner. Georgia’s agriculture and tourism industries will host newly-elected legislators for a “Georgia Farm-to-Table” dinner on Thursday night.

Early bird registration is $125 before October 22 and $165 after.  Registration includes meals, tours and materials. Organizations can exhibit for $250, but limited space is available. Varying sponsorship levels are available.  Visit www.areg.caes.uga.edu for online or mail-in registration and sponsorship information.

A special conference-lodging rate of $89 per night, which has been extended through the weekend, is available by calling the Dillard House at 1-800-541-0671 or by visiting www.dillardhouse.com.

The conference is hosted and sponsored by the UGA Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development, the Georgia Resource Conservation and Development Council, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission, Georgia Farm Bureau, Georgia Center for Agriculture Innovation, Georgia Center for Local Government, Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, UGA Cooperative Extension, Georgia Department of Economic Development Tourism Division, the Rock Ranch, Jaemor Farms, Hillcrest Orchards, AgGeorgia Farm Credit, Rabun County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, Northeast Georgia Mountains Travel Association, Georgia Agribusiness Council and C7 Marketing and Sales Solutions.