A large dairy barn is now part of a flourishing agritourism business for David and Esli Pelly of Smiths Grove.

Dozens of different Kentucky Proud items either made or grown by themselves and many others are smartly displayed in the 100-feet by 300-feet barn.

On Saturday hundreds of people from around the state browsed through the items, took home some pumpkins and gourds or listened to some music during Old Fashioned Farm Days.

Jimmy Cooke of Smiths Grove said he enjoys coming out to Pelly’s Farm Fresh Market. The workings of a farm are something he has seen before.

But a lot of other people haven’t, he said.

“We like to share our lifestyle with other people,” Esli said. “There are some city kids who have never seen a brown farm egg.”

Cooke also appreciates all the jobs the business provides and the fact that it sells other Kentucky-made products.

One of those products is maple syrup made by Federal Grove’s Lee Blythe. Blythe was at the event Saturday burning his maple candles and talking to folks about the syrup he has tapped near his family’s Auburn bed and breakfast and restaurant.

“They sell an awful lot of product for me,” Blythe said.

David said the fundamentals of running the business are the same as farming – you are still dependent on the economy and the weather.

“But you interact with people instead of animals,” he said.

David used to have the dairy operation with his father, who died a few years ago.

Because of that and the declining dairy industry, Esli said it was time for a change and they closed the dairy.

“We wanted to do something that maybe would bring our two daughters back here,” she said. “I knew they wouldn’t want to run a dairy farm … but they might want to run a store.”

A year ago the Pellys started using the barn for the farm-based business.

Esli for years has owned and operated the Garden Patch in Smiths Grove.

She shares her love for plants and other garden-related items in classes conducted in the back of the barn. The Warren County Agriculture Extension Service also has had classes there.

“We’ve even hosted a few weddings,” Esli said.

Warren County Magistrate Tommy Hunt is friends with the Pellys and visits their business quite often.

“It’s a tremendous asset to our community,” Hunt said. “It’s where we get all of our garden plants.”

David said their business is one of the numerous agritourism businesses in the region.

“There are a lot of good agritourism spots around,” he said. “Jackson’s Orchard has been around for a long time and we have Chaney’s Dairy Barn.

“I think that most farmers are happy to share their experiences with others if people just ask.”

The Chaneys opened their business several years ago to supplement their declining dairy income. They since have enlarged the restaurant and gift shop area and offerings to the public.

Jackson’s continues to be a popular spot in the spring and fall for residents looking for fun or in the summer during growing season for vegetables.

And Kenny’s Country Cheese welcomes visitors to its 200-acre farm in Barren County. Many other businesses, including Pelly’s, sell their products.

Esli said a fairly recent addition to Interstate 65’s blue exit sign under the attraction category is helping draw in new customers. The sign lists Pelly’s Farm Fresh as being 1.8 miles from the interstate.

“There are people who just see the sign and come off the interstate,” she said.

Pelly’s is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

— For more information about Kentucky’s agritourism industry, go to kentuckyfarmsarefun.com; Pelly’s can be found on Facebook; kennyscountrycheese.com; www.jacksonorchard.com; federalgrove.com; or chaneysdairybarn.com.