Agritourism: Is It Worth It?
- Meggan Urevig
- Aug 4
- 3 min read
For generations, farms have been places of hard work, early mornings, and long days that most folks never get to see. Even in the late 1900's, even those in urban areas, had some family member that farmed...it wasn't fun to go visit as that meant a work-cation.
Flash forward to now-a-days, many aren't sure how veggies are grown, why buying brown eggs over white eggs doesn't make them organic and have no one in the extended family that farms.
Today, however, more farmers are inviting the public through the gate, giving families a chance to experience agriculture firsthand.
That growing movement is called agritourism, and it has become one of the fastest-growing ways for farms to diversify their businesses.
Agritourism includes just about any activity that brings visitors to a working farm or ranch for recreation, education, or shopping.
Think pumpkin patches, corn mazes, hayrides, U-pick strawberries, farm tours, petting zoos, farm-to-table dinners, weddings, overnight farm stays, or even workshops on canning, cheesemaking classes, foraging expeditions and gardening.
For many farms, these experiences provide something every producer understands the value of-another source of income.
A poor harvest, fluctuating livestock markets, or unpredictable weather can make farming a gamble. Agritourism helps spread that risk by creating revenue through admission tickets, events, workshops, lodging, and direct sales of produce, meats, honey, baked goods, or handmade products.
Instead of selling through a middleman, customers buy directly from the people who raised it, allowing farmers to keep more of every dollar earned.
The numbers show that interest continues to grow. According to USDA research, agritourism revenue more than tripled between 2002 and 2017, eventually approaching $950 million annually. More recent Census of Agriculture data reported approximately $1.26 billion in agritourism income in 2022, showing that more farms are finding value in welcoming visitors.
Beyond the dollars, many farmers say the greatest reward is education.
As mentioned before, Americans are now several generations removed from the farm.
A child who feeds a calf, gathers eggs, or digs potatoes is far more likely to understand where food comes from than someone who only sees it wrapped in plastic at the grocery store.
Adults often leave with a greater appreciation for the work, weather challenges, and animal care that go into producing our food every day.
Agritourism also helps preserve something that's becoming increasingly rare—our rural heritage. Every successful farm that remains profitable helps protect farmland from development, supports neighboring businesses, creates seasonal jobs, and keeps agricultural traditions alive for future generations. Communities benefit alongside farmers.
Of course, opening the farm gate isn't without its challenges.
If you're considering adding Agrotourism to your farm production, there are a few things to consider.
1.Visitors bring additional responsibilities that many people never think about.
Liability insurance, parking, restroom facilities
accessibility, signage, food safety, animal safety
emergency planning, extra staffing and activies all become part of daily operations.
A farmer who once focused solely on growing crops may suddenly find themselves answering customer questions, managing social media, coordinating reservations, and cleaning bathrooms between tour groups.
Privacy can also become a concern.
Farms are homes as much as they are businesses, and inviting hundreds—or even thousands—of visitors each season means finding the right balance between sharing your operation and protecting your family's personal space.
Not every farm is the right fit, either.
Success often depends on location, nearby attractions, local population, and whether the farm offers an authentic experience that visitors can't find somewhere else. Researchers have found that farms near scenic areas, outdoor recreation, or larger population centers often generate higher agritourism revenue. The key isn't trying to copy someone else's operation—it's highlighting what makes your own farm unique.
At its heart, agritourism isn't about becoming an amusement park.
It's about inviting people to slow down, ask questions, meet the farmer, and reconnect with the land that feeds them. Whether it's picking apples with the kids, enjoying a farm dinner under the stars, or simply watching calves play in the pasture, those experiences build trust between farmers and consumers in ways that no advertisement ever could.
For some farms, agritourism may never be the right path. For others, it may be the extra income—and community connection—that keeps the family farm thriving for another generation.
And if a few city kids leave knowing that chocolate milk doesn't come from brown cows...well, that's a pretty successful day on the farm.
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