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Missouri Department of Agriculture

Ag Business Development

Agritourism

Agritourism is a growing industry in the United States and presents a number of opportunities for Missouri farmers.

The following are ideas for agritourism opportunities which could be implemented in Missouri, ranging from seasonal to year-round activities, to enhance the profitability of your farming operation:

• Corn Mazes: Corn mazes are the craze these days and can be found across the United States in corn-growing regions. Mazes offer a unique experience for all ages.
• Bed & Breakfast operations: You can turn your home into a get-away for people wanting to experience rural life.
• Farm & Ranch Recreation, including Farm Stays, and Farm Visits: A farm adventure experience for guests, who get to participate in and learn about farm activities. The business usually furnishes horse guides, tack, food, lodging, canoes or other equipment. A farm stay usually involves overnight stays, while farm visits are generally less than one day.
• Direct Marketing: Any marketing method whereby farmers sell their products directly to consumers. Examples include roadside stands, farm stands, U-pick operations, community supported agriculture or subscription farming, farmers’ markets, etc.
• U-Pick or Pick Your Own Operations: These are fruits and farms or orchards where the customers themselves harvest the fruits or products. The prices they pay for the volume harvested will be usually higher than what the grower would get from a broker. (Source: University of California Extension)
• Roadside Farm Stands: You can sell your agricultural and value added products direct to consumers from an on-farm stand. Also known as farm stands, refers to any activity where the farmer sells agricultural and value added products from his farm directly to consumers at a stand or kiosk located on or near his farm or along a road near the farm. (Source: University of California Extension)

General Agritourism Resources:

• University of California Small Farm Center and Partners Launch Agricultural Tourism Project has a number of resource guides to help farmers implement agritourism strategies, including “What is Agri-tourism?”, “Top Marketing Ideas for Agritourism Operations”, and “Adding Value and Personalizing Your Services”
• The Community, Food, and Agriculture Program has the following publications available: “Agritourism in New York State: Opportunities and Challenges”, “Agritourism in New York: Management and Operations”, “Agritourism in New York: A Market Analysis”, “Considerations for Agritourism Development”
• Entertainment Farming and Agri-tourism (Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas)
• Starting A Bed & Breakfast/Farm Vacation Business (Michigan State University Extension)
• Wisconsin Corn Maze
  Bed & Breakfasts: Is This The Right Business For You? (MP667, $4) Telephone Orders (573) 882-7216 or (800) 292-0969 NCR445, Marketing Crafts and Other Products to Tourists ($1), (573) 882-7216 or (800) 292-0969
• Farm and Ranch Recreation (University of Wyoming). This web site is designed to provide farm and ranch recreation operators with education, marketing ideas, and a way to communicate with each other.
• Direct Marketing Agricultural Products to Tourists
• Direct Farm Marketing Guide (University of Arizona)
• Direct Farm Marketing and Tourism Handbook
• Missouri Alternatives Center has additional links relating to agritourism

Associations and Organizations:

• Missouri Division of Tourism in the Missouri Department of Economic Development
• North American Farmers Direct Marketing Association
• Ecotourism Society
• Travel Industry Association of America
• National Recreation & Park Association
• Travel and Tourism Research Association
• Pennsylvania Farm Vacation Association
• Maine Farm Vacation B&M Association

Missouri Contacts to Assist You with Agritourism Businesses:

• Thomas Keohan, University of Missouri Outreach/Extension (has expertise in tourism planning - community and tourism impact - economic), Taney County Extension Center Courthouse Annex, P.O. Box 218, Forsyth, MO 65653, (417) 546-2371
• Gale Trussell, University of Missouri Outreach/Extension (has expertise in tourism policy education, tourism associations, festival management, cultural tourism, heritage tourism, hospitality customer service, ecotourism, attraction development, and tourism planning) Camden County Extension Center, 113 Kansas Street, P.O. Box 1405, Camdenton, MO 65020, (573) 346-2644