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This website has been developed specifically for Kansas farmers and ranchers involved in AgriTourism, rural properties where the traveler has an opportunity to experience farm and country life far from the hustle of the city.
The site is a project of the Kansas Agritourism Advisory Council, working in cooperation with:
the Kansas Agriculture Marketing Division and the Travel and Tourism Division of the Department of Commerce
and with financial assistance from Frontier Farm Credit.
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If you have any questions, please contact the Department of Commerce, Travel and Tourism Division, and ask for the Agritourism Liaison.
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This Month's Featured Destination:

Fieldstone Enterprises

For a Quick Round of... Apples?!

“The first guy to stop by our new U-Pick apple orchard says to me, ‘Wait a minute. You want me to go out in this heat, try to find the ripe apples in your orchard, pick them myself, haul them back down here, and then pay you? I don’t think so!’”

“So I said, ‘Okay, how about this? I’ll give you a map to show you where to find the ripe apples. And I’ll give you a bag and bucket to carry the apples. And then I’m going to give you a golf cart to drive you family into the field. Is that better?”

This is how Ken Krause, of Fieldstone Enterprises in Overbrook, Kansas remembers starting his unique U-Pick apple orchard where customers use his golf carts to go out into the field. Now he has five carts that customers may use, and many customers willingly wait their turn in the picnic area, and buy Ken’s brats and cold cider while they wait.

I Bought the Barn, and They Threw In the Building

But apples are just one of the many enterprises at Fieldstone. The main attraction is what appears to be a three-story, French-inspired stone manor. But in reality, the building is a barn erected in 1909 by Mennonite farmers. Ken, who traveled the state as a dental supply representative, had been looking for the right farm, and this was it.

“Actually,” Ken says, “I bought the barn, and they threw in the farm. I absolutely loved this building immediately. So I had to figure out then how I could support it financially.”

That was in 1977. Today, perhaps the busiest enterprise at Fieldstone is the fantastic getaway Bed and Breakfast that Ken and his wife Nancy have created from the shell of the stone barn. The loft is rented out almost every Friday and Saturday night of the year, and no wonder.

Begin with the huge picture windows looking out over the farm from this high third floor loft space. Giant natural beams, high vaulted ceilings, and occasional skylights add to the glory of the room. Perhaps the most impressive feature is the size of this room, and the accommodations: giant king size bed, Jacuzzi, double-occupancy shower/steam room, wet bar, refrigerator, microwave, and a full size pool table.

Furnishings, woodwork, lighting fixtures, and décor have been collected from some of the finest old hotels and mansions in the Midwest and beyond, as well as collections from London, Germany, and elsewhere. Visitors delight in learning the history of the many beautiful objects surrounding them, yet the grandest delight is simply the opportunity to permit oneself to spend a weekend in such total luxury. The loft rents to guests for $155 per night.

Two other rooms are also available for rent ($89 for double, $50 for single), and Ken estimates that over a year’s time, they average between 400 and 500 overnight guests. Fieldstone is located about 30 minutes south of both Lawrence and Topeka, and attracts primarily folks from these cities and nearby Greater Kansas City who just want to pamper themselves.

Nancy and Ken Krause

The Fieldstone farm also sells many farm favorites, such as fresh asparagus in the spring time, and in season they have You Pick opportunities for Asian pears, cherries, peaches, apples, and pecans. During the apple season, they cook brats, and sell these along with slushes and apple cider to guests coming to the farm. Most customers also visit their country store, stocked with collectibles and gifts from the farm. Field trips are also available, touring the students through the orchard, packing room, and the cider press.

Ken and Nancy recall that they had originally established a vineyard on the rocky soil, but in 1992, when Ken was just retiring to live on the farm, more than 50% of the plants suddenly shriveled and died. The following year, they lost the remainder. The source was ultimately traced to someone else’s use of the herbicide, 2-4-D, to control weeds nearly a half-mile away. The vines would not come back, and that’s when Ken obtained a grant to replant the vineyard with hi-density orchard.

Word of Mouth Marketing Works Best

Like most successful businesses, Fieldstone’s best marketing tools are his satisfied customers, who tell their friends about the “unique and luxurious weekend they enjoyed at Fieldstone Enterprises.”

Ken said that he does not pay for broadcast or newspaper advertising except for his Harvest Celebration on Labor Day. The Harvest Celebration usually coincides with the availability of his Jonathan apples and the Asian pears, and Ken does place announcements in the newspapers and radio in Lawrence and Topeka to attract more you-pickers. He has tried an Octoberfest, but found the third weekend of October to be pretty late in the season for his apples. He said he also invited a Kansas winery to have a wine tasting event on the farm, and reported that to be only moderately successful.

In the entryway, guests can see the original beams of the barn. The brick was once street pavement in Kansas City.

Ken does maintain a list of about 2,000 addresses to which he sends a couple of postcards every year. These postcards announce the beginning of the fresh asparagus, and later, the start of the U-Pick season for apples and fruits.

He also sends out an email to about 1,000 people every two weeks, talking about the apples, cherries, or whatever else is in season. Ken says he maintains both databases himself and does not use an online service, although he is interested in learning more about them. As email authentication requirements are increased, the email management service may become a necessity in the future.

Variety of Enterprises

This month’s featured destination, Fieldstone Enterprises, is certainly aptly named; the beautiful fieldstone manor is a major attraction, complemented by many interesting enterprises that provide value-added income to “help Ken support his barn.” Agritourism operators are encouraged to schedule a visit to Fieldstone Enterprises. You’ll want to see what you can learn that will help your own enterprise, and you’ll probably enjoy a little well-deserved time in the third-floor Jacuzzi!

For more information, visit the website: http://www.fieldstonee.com

Click here to read more of the May 2006 Kansas AgriTourism Newsletter