Farm Fresh Living
Agritourism is a labor of love for those in the Hocking Hills area Story by ABBY MILLER | Photos by CARRIE LEGG
O
n Sam Carr Road in Laurelville, there’s a recently installed sign that’s proven to make some vehicles slow down to get a better look. A Bigfoot silhouette stands, carrying a small, pale sign, emblazoned with the website address “HOCKINGHILLSCBD.COM.” Hocking Hills CBD is the newest business venture from Eric and Brenda Schmidt, owners of Laurel Springs Farm, which is just a few turns away from the eye-catching sign. The Schmidts got into CBD products as a way to manage Brenda’s arthritis pain. Business is booming more and more as visitors of Laurel Springs Farm learn of the Schmidts’ company and subsequently purchase products. The couple dreams of soon opening a greenhouse on their 72-acre farm, allowing them to grow their own hemp onsite and further expand Hocking Hills CBD. “I would probably find that fun,” Eric says with a smile. And just as the Schmidts’ business ventures are expanding, so is the emphasis on agritourism across Appalachia.
In The Hocking Hills, Agritourism Blossoms
Simply put, agritourism is any relationship between tourism and the agricultural community, Karen Raymore, executive director of the Hocking Hills Tourism Association, says. That relationship can include anything from petting zoos to farms like Laurel Springs and much more. “I think what we have in Southeast Ohio is this very authentic Appalachian culture, and so much of that is grounded in agriculture,” Raymore says. At Laurel Springs Farm, Eric and Brenda strive to offer a relaxing, private experience to all who visit. As of February, the property has one cabin available for rental:
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I think what we have in Southeast Ohio is this very authentic Appalachian culture, and so much of that is grounded in agriculture.” - Karen Raymore, executive director of Hocking Hills Tourism Association
ABOVE | What’s farm living without a few cows? BELOW | Bigfoot advertises the newest business venture from Eric and Brenda Schmidt, owners of Laurel Springs Farm.
