BERRYVILLE, VA (April 10, 2019) The third annual Clarke County Farm Tour, organized by the county’s economic development and tourism office, invites the public to explore two equestrian facilities, a dairy farm, and a produce farm market on Saturday, April 27. The Clarke County Farm Tour is a free, self-guided driving tour, meaning people can visit the farms they want to see at their own pace. There are plenty of restaurants, retail shops, and vineyards to visit along the way.
This year’s tour features Hunt Club Farms, JBIT Ranch, Harvue Farms, and Oak Hart Farm. Hunt Club Farms, JBIT Ranch, and Oak Hart Farm welcome visitors from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 27. Harvue is only open from 9 a.m. to noon on farm tour day, because employees must milk the cows in the afternoon.
“One of the best things about Clarke is its agriculture, which accounts for a lot of business,” said Len Capelli, economic development director for the county. “The farm tour is designed to help people better understand the many types of agricultural businesses in the county.”
Across Clarke’s 178-square miles, more than 59,000 acres are used for active agricultural operations on about 1,100 parcels of land, according to Capelli. By visiting farms, people may gain a greater appreciation of where their food comes from and how diverse farms contribute to the county’s economy.
Shawna Rinker Hartsook, owner of Oak Hart Farm, puts it another way. “Farms nourish much more than our bodies. They nourish our communities.”
Hunt Club Farms is located at 294 Longmarsh Rd. in Berryville. Owners Darrell and Tracy Zack were introduced to horses when their two young daughters became interested years ago. The daughters are grown now, and Hunt Club Farms continues as beautiful boarding and training facility for riders interested in cross-country, dressage, and jumping. Hunt Club Farms hosts equestrian events throughout the year, and advanced level event rider Alyssa Peterson is the trainer on staff. Contact the farm at 540-955-1779 or tracyzack360@gmail.com. Go to huntclubfarms.net.
JBIT Ranch, located at 1674 Summit Point Rd. in Berryville, has been a family-operated horsemanship center for more than 20 years. Owners Todd and Barbara Johnson offer English and Western riding lessons, boarding, training, and summer horseback riding camps on the 128-acre farm. Surrounded by hundreds of acres of countryside, JBIT Ranch has access to miles and miles of trails. The Johnsons’ top priority is a safe, friendly, family-focused environment where everyone is welcome no matter their skill level or riding goals. Contact JBIT at 540-955-4099 or info@jbitranch.com. Go to jbitranch.com.
Harvue Farms is located at 2308 Longmarsh Rd. in Berryville. John O. Hardesty and his son, John “Jack” Hardesty, built their first milking barn in 1949. Starting with a 23-cow milking herd, they launched Harvue Farms, which has remained a family-owned and operated dairy farm for five generations. Today, the family maintains a milking herd of more than 300 Holsteins, and the Hardestys grow much of their own corn silage and hay for their almost 400-head total herd. In addition to high-quality milk, Harvue Farms is known nationally for producing championship show cows. Contact Ashley Hardesty at 540-955-3842 or milkrun6@aol.com. Follow Harvue Farms on Facebook.
Oak Hart Farm is located at 822 Shepherds Mill Rd. in Berryville. Oak Hart Farm is a family-owned and operated farm in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Oak Hart grows about 600 varieties of vegetables and flowers on 10 acres east of Berryville. The Rinker-Hartsook family has cared for its land since the early 1970s and does not use synthetically produced chemical pesticides or harmful fertilizers on any of crops. Oak Hart Farm also has a farm store where it sells its produce as well as other local products such as herbs, teas, and eggs. Contact Shawna Hartsook at 540-533-3096 or shawna@oakheartfarm.com. Go to oakhartfarm.com.
