OXFORD, Miss. -- The Mississippi State University Extension Service invites producers to an agritourism marketing workshop scheduled for July 21 and 22 at the Graduate Hotel in Oxford.

Growing Your Brand: Marketing Tools for Mississippi Agritourism and Local Foods will feature workshops on the importance of agritourism in educating the public about state agriculture and offer emerging strategies professionals can use to increase visitor traffic and grow their businesses.

“The overall purpose of this program is to improve marketing and branding for Mississippi’s agritourism and local foods producers statewide,” said Rachael Carter, an MSU Extension community development specialist. “This industry is a tool that can grow local economies, and its growth depends on a collaborative effort of those involved in tourism, agriculture and policymaking.”

Featured speakers will include Judith Phillips, research associate with the MSU Stennis Institute of Government and Community Development; Brent Thompson, field representative for U.S. Representative Trent Kelly; Daniel Doyle, executive director of the Mississippi Sustainable Agriculture Network; and Tami Reist, president and CEO of Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association.

Producers who complete the workshop will have the option to work with an advertising professional to make improvements to their individual marketing plans later in the year.                

The event will be held in conjunction with the Mississippi Agritourism Association’s annual meeting.

Registration opens at 9:30 a.m. on July 21, but participants are encouraged to preregister by emailing Katie Robinson of the Mississippi Agritourism Association at lkatherineeaton@hotmail.com. The workshop costs $50.

For more information, visit http://gcd.msucares.com/register.