Agri-tourism; A Strategy
Toward Sustainable Farm,
Business, Family and
Community Development
Virginia Cooperative Extension
L. Dawn Barnes
Andy Overbay
Agri-tourism
……offering a product/s
AND/OR a service/s for
profit, in a rural or farm
setting, to tourists in a
manner that will give
them an “experience”
while on vacation.
Where We Started
North Carolina Cooperative Extension
Task Force
Asset Mapping
Grant Application
 Additional people join efforts
SOUTHWEST DISTRICT
Results of Survey
Mailed 12358 – 487
87% included contact information
34 currently in Agri-tourism businesses
Businesses’ target clientele
390 interested in more information
Desired delivery methods
Agri-Tourism Survey
Your completion of this survey will assist us in developing a plan to assist you. Please, circle all answers applicable.
1 - Are you currently involved in or operating an agri-tourism business?
If Yes………
How would you categorize your type of business/activity?
Fresh products and value-added products: flowers, fruit/veggies, relishes, wine, herbs
Overnight stays: bed and breakfast, camp sites, farm vacation, rental cabin
Special events: music festivals, harvest festivals, hay rides
On Farm: corn mazes, hayrides, animal activity/related, farm tours
Off the Farm: farmer’s markets, state and county fairs, roadside stands, web-site
Recreation activities: canoe livery, horseback riding, rock climbing, hiking, birding trails
Recreation – Hunting or related: fee fishing/hunting, archery course, skeet shooting
Youth and adult education: about agriculture, how to demonstrations, about nature
Other – Please identify ______________________________________________
Yes
No
2 - Who are the customers/target audiences that you are trying to attract?
A. People from local area
B. Families
C. People from farther away (50 miles or greater) D. Retires
E. People from other states
F. Youth
G. Seasonal tourists/travelers H. Other ____________________
If No…..
Are you interested in adding an agri-tourism emphasis to your business?
Yes
No
3 - Do you know of someone else who is involved in agri-tourism OR might be interested in learning more about agri-tourism? Yes No
Name ______________________ Address ________________________________________
Phone ________________________ E-MAIL Address ______________________________
(Please use back of survey if needed to add more names and information)
4 - Would you be interested in educational and marketing resources such as;
A. Seminars
B. One-on-one assistance
C. ‘Farm’ tours D. Mentor program
E. Web-based programs
5- Is there additional information you would like to share about your business? Examples; type of business, business name, festivals involved
in, future dreams, marketing strategies.
(OPTIONAL - Please use back of survey)
To aid us in contacting you in the future please share your –
Name ________________________________________
Phone ____________________
Mailing Address ____________________________________________________________
Street Address _____________________________________________________________
Email _____________________________ Web address __________________________
Return using enclosed envelope OR you may enter your responses at
http://www.
What has been Accomplished
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Two educational workshops
By-laws
Follow-up system for requests
Speakers during partner’s conference
Tour of local establishments
Newsletter
Home Stays
Lifestyle Farming
Educational,
Pick Your Own,
Outdoor Activities
“Mountain Vistas”
The Agritourism Newsletter
Of
Southwestern Virginia
Why Agritourism?
Traditional Ag in SW Virginia
Burley Tobacco
Conventional Dairy Farming
Beef Cattle
Small Ruminants: Goats/Sheep
The State of the
Commonwealth’s Agriculture
41,096 Farms in Virginia
Average Size = 92 acres
32% (13,147 farms) are less than 49 acres
Average income = $8,870 (Gross Sales)
26.7% <$2,500
43.2% <$5,000
60.7% <$10,000
Average Production Expense = $46,858
Resource: USDA 1997 Census of Agriculture
The State of the
Commonwealth’s Agriculture
Full-time Farmers
18,410
Part-time Farmers
23,215
Part-time Operators comprise 56% of the
farming community of Virginia
39.5% of ALL operators (71% of parttimers) work off the farm more than 200 days
per year
Resource: USDA 1997 Census of Agriculture
The State of the
Commonwealth’s Agriculture
What Does This All Means?
Conventional VA Agriculture isn’t
conventional anymore
Conventional/Traditional ways to serve
VA’s farm families are not as effective
What’s old is new—the county agent.
Nationally, It’s The Same Story
2002 Census of Agriculture
90,000 less farms
Only areas of growth
10-49 acres & 2,000+ acres
Corporate farms 16,500 decrease
Part-time operations outnumber full-time by 2:1
(1,998,410 vs. 962,403)
Average age of farmers
55.3 (+1.3)
Resource: USDA (http://www.nass.usda.gov/census)
Taking Aim at the Situation
Enter Mountain Vistas
Why a newsletter?
Our clients were interested in what
everyone else was doing, so we provide an
overarching view of the latest “experiments”
in Southwestern Virginia, the surrounding
region and across the nation.
Mountain Vistas
New Audiences
Multi-disciplines (Beef, Horses, Ornamentals,
Organics, Ecotainment)
Questions from traditional audiences
What Is A Farm? by Tom Covey
“Andy, I am considering running this ‘What is a
Farm?’ article in our regular Ag newsletter. I’ve
been flooded with questions on that article.” -Tom Covey Montgomery Co. FBM Agent
What’s in the Future??
Coffee Chat Sessions
Continued Partnerships
 Additional Educational Opportunities
 ???
State Leadership Contact
D. Brian Calhoun
Assistant Director, Community Initiatives
Interim Director Family & Community Sciences/Food, Nutrition & Health
101 Hutcheson Hall
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA 24061
Phone:(540) 231-6371
E-mail: dcalhoun@vt.edu
Publication location:
http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/agritour/310-003/310-003.html