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Agritourism Is Growing Fun

Agritourism, as the name implies, combines farm activities with tourism. Groups visit farms to tour, pick fruits and vegetables, cut their own Christmas trees, ride horses or enjoy fresh maple syrup. Destinations can include farm-based bed-and-breakfasts, living-history farms and countless other pursuits.

Farm attractions help us understand the hard work that goes into producing the food we eat. But for most, it’s just fun.

 

Chaney’s Dairy Barn

Bowling Green, Kentucky http://buyessayshere.org/

Their dairy farm revenue was shrinking when Carl and Debra Chaney decided in 2003 to try agritourisn, opening Chaney’s Dairy Bar, a combination dairy farm, ice cream shop, restaurant and gift store selling food items made with their own cows’ milk. It worked.

“We continue to increase revenue every year,” said owner Carl Chaney. “It’s been absolutely fantastic.”

The Chaneys organized an annual fall festival, and locals and tourists poured in. If you looked at the farm’s corn maze from the sky, you’d see a tractor pulling a wagon with pumpkins on it and the slogan “So God Made a Farmer.”

Eight times a summer, the farm hosts an event called Ice Cream and Moovies. Adults and kids sit on blankets and watch family movies projected outdoors.

 

Critz Farms

Casenovia, New York

Originally, the Critz family started with “you cut” Christmas trees in this central New York town.

“That’s how we started agritourism,” said owner Matthew Critz. Next were pumpkins and fall farm activities. A corn maze, educational farm tours, tractor pulls, wagon rides and a petting park came later as the operation grew.

Apples created another revenue stream and even more visitors.

“We purchased a 120-year-old cider press, this gigantic, monster piece of equipment,” said Critz. “We pressed sweet cider, and then people asked for hard cider. So we make that too.”

 

Peltzer Farm

Temecula, California

Fall is the busiest season at Peltzer Farm, located 85 miles southeast of Los Angeles, with five acres of pumpkins growing. Attractions include a corn maze, a petting zoo, pig races, pony rides, a kids’ train and horse riding.

Another growing business is farm-based weddings. The number of bookings has increased each year, and 2015 looks busy. Groups like the local convention and visitors bureau have rented the shaded outdoor picnic area for events.