Farm Fun in Morgan County!



Morgan County's #1 industry is agriculture, followed by tourism. When you put the two together, you've got a great product to market. Morgan County is home to several distinctive farms and a market that features local and regional produce, sauces, and jellies. Whether you're looking to experience the small town charm of Madison and its quaint shops and historic homes, or you're looking to experience agri-tourism at its best, the Madison-Morgan Convention & Visitors Bureau can help you plan an unforgettable visit.

A Quick Breakdown of Morgan County's Agriculture History:



During Morgan County's early farming days, corn, oats, wheat and barley were the primary crops. Eventually, cotton became the most important crop after the end of the Civil War. In fact, in 1920, cotton yielded 36,197 bales on 74,041 acres! As occurred in most of the South, the boll weevil infestation took its toll and with this drastic blow to the economy, the 1920 population of 20,143 decreased to 12,488 by 1930. Much of the cotton acreage was converted to pastureland and it was used for cattle. In the 1950s, Morgan County ranked first in the state in number of milk cows and second in whole milk sales with more than 41 percent of the total farm income from dairy products. In 1959 the sale of fruit and nuts accounted for 5 percent of all farm income, as there were several commercial peach orchards and pecan orchards in the county. Peaches and pecans aside, much of the former cotton land was planted in pine trees, and the dairy farms began a slow decline in numbers in the 1970s. The County now has about 1500 acres in cotton, 1000 acres in corn, and about 2000 acres in wheat. Major livestock consists of cattle and horses. Currenty, if beef and dairy are counted together, Morgan County is one of the leading cattle counties in Georgia!



Located in Madison's Historic Downtown, HunkerDowns is an open-air market that features all sorts of organic produce. However, featuring more than just produce, HunkerDowns specializes in Georgia products that include honey, BBQ sauce, vinaigrettes, preserves, apple butter, and milk. The market also sells eggs from right here in Morgan County. HunkerDowns is located at 146 Academy Street next to Dog Ear Books. Open 10:00-6:00 Monday through Friday and 10:00-5:00 on Saturday.

 

Morgan County is also home to several farms that offer group tours and seasonal tours. Big Sandy Creek Dairy Farm offers a hay ride, milking demonstration, pumpkin patch, and corn maze. Jack's Creek Tree Farm offers a hay ride and tree tour during the Holiday season, while Johnston Dairy Farm offers a hay ride, dairy tour, and even gives visitors the opportunity to make their very own homemade ice cream! For more information on these farms, please contact the Madison-Morgan CVB at 800.709.7406.



In nearby Rutledge on July 4-5 you'll find the Sunflower Festival, recently featured in Southern Living magazine. The Sunflower Festival, originally organized by the West-Holt family, has grown into a much anticipated community and regional event with over 6,000 in attendance last year. Heritage crafters and artists set up to demonstrate their hand-made items. Wonderful home-grown music is played, delicious, local, and traditional 4th of July food is served, and kids can participate in games and art projects or take a hay ride in a tractor-drawn wagon. Attendees are even able to cut their own sunflower bouquet. The 1910 Sharecropper House is the center of the festival with tours of the house and its heritage gardens. With artisans and crafters under the canopy of oak trees, and the now 15 acres of glorious sunflowers, it seemed that the backdrop for this unique festival had already been painted.

 

Useful links:

Big Sandy Creek Dairy Farm
Jack's Creek Tree Farm
Johnston Dairy Farm
Sunflower Festival
Farmhouse Inn