Ag Tour 2012 to visit Central Waters Brewing Company

Ag Tour 2012 is slated Wednesday, Sept. 19.

Planned by the Agri-Business Committee of the Portage County Business Council, Ag Tour is an annual event celebrating the agri-business industry in Central Wisconsin.

The tour of local agri-businesses is open to anyone interested in learning more about the success of the area's agri-business industry.

The theme for this year's event is "Alternative Ag".

Ag Tour 2012 begins at noon with a picnic lunch at Wisconsin Public Service Corporation in Plover. The guest speaker during lunch will be Jasia Steinmetz, a founder and current board member of the Central Rivers Farmshed. The presentation will give the audience Farmshed's history and vision for the future.

The tour bus departs at 1 p.m. for a tour of a 300-acre organic farm - Stuczynski Farms in Amherst.

Stuczynski Farms grow row crops, small grains, hay and are in their fourth season of growing organic malting barley for Central Waters Brewing Company.

Participants will look at some fall cover crops, discuss the preparation for next year crops and organic weed control, crop quality and samples of the barley and hard red spring wheat grown this year.

The tour continues to Central Waters Brewery Company in Amherst to experience the care taken to brew some of the finest quality products. Today the brewery services over 200 retail locations in Central Wisconsin and has expanded its product line to include eighteen beer styles.

The event is open to the public. Reservations must be made by Friday, Sept. 14, by calling the Portage County Business Council at 715-344-1940 or by visiting www.portagecountybiz.com.

The cost is $20 per person. Costs include lunch, tours and bus transportation, socializing and education.