The Heart of Ohio Tour


The Heart of Ohio Tour will celebrate its twenty-fifth year in October of 1996. Points of interest throughout Knox County are considered "stops" on the Tour list. They represent the diversity of industry and business in the county and have included such stops as: Country Window in Centerburg, the Kokosing Construction Company in Fredericktown, the Shinaberry Sheep Farm in Middlebury and the Fredericktown Fire Department in Fredericktown.

Early each year, a committee composed of representatives from the Knox County Extension, Soil and Water Conservation District, Mount Vernon/Knox County Chamber of Commerce, Farm Bureau, Kiwanis Club and granges meet to plan the Tour. Because it focuses on different aspects and areas of the County each year, the Tour offers great variation and a little something for everyone.

The Tour design typically consists of between eight and ten stops which generally lie within one geographical area of the County. Historical backgrounds and maps of the sites can be found in the Mount Vernon News in early October. One is encouraged to drive to the sites and visit in the afternoon or early evening. Hosts usually finish giving tours at seven p.m. so that they can attend to any chores they may have. Agricultural Extension Agents estimate that between 1,500 and 2,000 visitors go on the Tour each year. Favorable weather conditions undoubtedly prompt more people to drive the Tour.

Ultimately, Tour stops are reflective of community life. And because community life in Knox County is heavily agricultural, the Tour's emphasis is on agriculture as well. As a result, the Tour acts to inform visitors and to highlight rural life. Its significance can not be overstated.



Home Sources
E-Mail The Family Farm Project