SALISBURY — Rowan County may be considered urban but we have many farms, and our county is definitely diverse. Last year, to help showcase some of our agriculture in the county, we created the Poinsettia and Winery tour. That tour sold out and was a complete success.

It is hard to top a tour that good, but Cooperative Extension, Rowan County Chamber of Commerce and the Ag Chamber Committee believe that we have a tour that can do that. For the 2016 Agriculture tour, you can see how beer is made, from growing barley to crafting the perfect brew.

This is a great opportunity to learn about the tools of the trade and see how our local breweries make their delicious beverages, all while seeing how agriculture is woven in throughout the entire process.

The Brewery and Barley Production tour will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 18 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The cost is $25 for Chamber of Commerce members and $35 for non-members (lunch included but beer tasting separate).

A bus will be provided, picking up attendees from Rowan County Cooperative Extension, 2727 Old Concord Road, and then at the Piedmont Research Station, for a tour of their barley fields and to learn from Carolina Malt about the selection of the barley and how it is stored to create the best grains for that frothy cold one.

After departing the Piedmont Research Station, we will stop at Morgan Ridge Railwalk Brewery and Eatery for a delicious local lunch and to sample some of their best beer flights. The last stop will be New Sarum Brewery to see how everything comes full circle with agriculture.

There will be a tour and time for tasting a beer selection, as well as a mini-farmers’ market with vendors who use spent grain in their farming practices.

Seating is limited and if last year’s tour is any indication of how fast the seats will go, you need to place your reservation as soon as possible.

Be sure to bring comfortable shoes and extra cash since I can almost guarantee that you will want to purchase a growler or two from our local breweries. Besides, this is a special occasion — it’s not like you get to have two brewery tours, information and education on how to select and grow the best barley for brews, and sample delicious beverages and food. And to top it all off, you have a driver.

If you are interested in buying a ticket, please contact the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce at 704-633-4221, or email them at info@rowanchamber.com.

If you are you are interested in brewing your own home brew, understanding how to grow and select the best barley, or want to learn more about our local breweries, this tour is for you.

If you would like more information about the tour stops and farms, call your local Cooperative Extension agent, Danelle Cutting, at 704-216-8970.