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Approved 12/12/16 <br />OC Board of Adjustment – 10/10/16 Page 67 of 113 <br /> <br /> <br />are always learning. And this farm plan, to me, looks like something that is getting closer and I think as far 1 <br />as a new farmer goes it seems like it's at an appropriate state of development. And in addition to that, I kind 2 <br />of touched on it already but I think that this farm plan in particular supports many of the objectives of 3 <br />Orange County's comprehensive plan and many of the objectives in Orange County's agricultural 4 <br />development and farmland preservation plan. 5 <br /> 6 <br />Andy Petesch: Could you describe or summarize some of the purposes behind the agritourism policy for 7 <br />encouraging Farmers to participate in agritourism. What benefits does that provide? 8 <br /> 9 <br />LeAnne Brown: Objection. Whose policies? Are you asking his opinion about agritourism, are you asking 10 <br />him about policies adopted by others? I'm not sure what you're asking. 11 <br /> 12 <br />Andy Petesch: Has the state adopted a policy to encourage agritourism that you are aware of? 13 <br /> 14 <br />Erin White: Absolutely. I think it was added to their definition of farming and there's a General Statute 15 <br />specific to agritourism that defines it and makes it an acceptable practice for a bona fide Farm 16 <br /> 17 <br />Andy Petesch: And why would that be a policy that the state would want to endorse? 18 <br /> 19 <br />Erin White: I think that our agricultural system is facing a lot of challenges and agritourism presents a lot of 20 <br />opportunities to stabilize and strengthen agricultural sector. 21 <br /> 22 <br />Andy Petesch: And with respect to the role of the barn on the farm could you discuss that? Because you 23 <br />analyze that from a design standpoint. 24 <br /> 25 <br />Erin White: My first response to the barn was that it’s just big, open flexible space. I think that that's a really 26 <br />important attribute for any agricultural operation and an open building is inherently more flexible than one 27 <br />that starts to get built out with more detail. And I think, that through the seasons as they learn more about 28 <br />the farming operations and the volume that push and pull on their space having, that open space will be an 29 <br />important attribute. 30 <br /> 31 <br />Andy Petesch: And in studying the plan on wedding activities what did you reach a conclusion about that in 32 <br />relation to the farm operations? 33 <br /> 34 <br />Erin White: Sure. I think it would reflect with what Miss Brewer said or kind of support it that my 35 <br />understanding in reading the plan a wedding there will be an important kind of rural activity. I think it would 36 <br />give the opportunity for people to spend that time and the rural landscape of Orange County time to 37 <br />experience activities on the farm and be an important way to connect the farming activities to the 38 <br />experience of the visitor. 39 <br /> 40 <br />Andy Petesch: Alright, and so based on your experience, education, and training does this fit within the 41 <br />Orange County Farm preservation plan? 42 <br /> 43 <br />LeAnne Brown: Objection. 44 <br /> 45 <br />Andy Petesch: You can answer. 46 <br /> 47 <br />Erin White: Absolutely. Yeah I think it supports much Agricultural Development Farm Land Protection Plan. 48 <br /> 49