MSU Extension specialty cut flower farm tours return in August with three Michigan stops
Michigan State University Extension (MSU Extension) will host its 2026 Specialty Cut Flower Farm Tour series throughout August, offering free educational visits to three Michigan flower farms for commercial growers and those interested in starting or expanding a flower business.
Presented in partnership with the MSU Extension First-Generation Farmer Mentorship Program, the tours will take place Aug. 11 at Hazelwood Flower Farm in Oakland Township, Aug. 18 at Twig End Farm in Flint and Aug. 27 at Leelanau Specialty Cut Flowers in Cedar. Advance registration is required, and attendance is limited to 35 participants per stop. Tours will last about 2 to 3 hours and include light refreshments.
Each stop includes a guided farm tour and facilitated discussion with the host grower and MSU Extension staff. Topics include urban flower farming, direct-to-consumer marketing, agritourism, production systems, crop selection, labor management and building farm businesses that align with market opportunities and personal goals.
The Aug. 27 Leelanau County program also includes an optional complimentary morning tour of nearby Heartwood Forest Farm, where first-generation farmer Patti Travioli will discuss niche marketing, value-added products and customer relationships. Although the farm focuses on culinary and medicinal herbs rather than cut flowers, organizers said the business strategies discussed can apply to flower farming operations. Participants can register for both Leelanau County tours through the same online registration process.
The tour series is intended to provide practical, experience-based learning while giving participants opportunities to exchange ideas and see how growers have developed different production and marketing approaches.
Register for MSU Extension’s Specialty Cut Flower Farm Tour here.