What is Agri-tourism?
 
Agri-tourism is a style of visitor experience that normally takes place on a farm or ranch. Tourists engage in farm and ranch activities ranging from planting crops and feeding animals to birding, hunting and fishing. This may include the chance to help with farming and ranching tasks during the visit.

There are three agri-tourism basics: Have something for visitors to see, something for them to do, and something for them to buy. How well you relate the various components (through a theme or otherwise) will determine how successful your agri-tourism enterprise will be. Things to see and do are often offered free, but there is still a lot of money to be made selling to visitors. Research shows that tourists buy mainly food, beverages, and souvenirs. You must offer a unique and entertaining cultural heritage experience that is generally appealing to all members in the family.

Agri-tourism is one alternative for improving the incomes and potential economic viability of small farms and rural communities. People are more interested in how their food is produced and want to meet the producers and talk with them about what goes into food production. Children who visit the farms often have not seen a live duck or pig and have not dug a potato right out of the ground.

While having several tour farms in close proximity is always desirable, most farmers interested in agri-tourism develop individualistic farm attractions. Many herb farms open to the public include a tour of the different herbs they are growing, and may include "nature walks" to show wild plants in their native habitat—riverbank vegetation, scarce examples of native prairie, rock outcroppings, or natural woods.

Creating an agri-tourism attraction on your farm can be a lot of work and must be a labor of love. Some attractions grow out of the owner's hobby collections—old farm machinery, log buildings, heirloom seeds, old bird houses, even a narrow-gauge railroad. Most, however, are created new from the owner’s concept—especially one that appeals to children.

Some agri-tourism activity ideas:

Great websites for agri-tourism information:

Colorado Department of Agriculture

Colorado Department of Agriculture – Agri-tourism Resources

Southwest Marketing Network

Nature-Based Tourism & Agri-tourism Trends: Unlimited Opportunities

National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service

Agricultural Marketing Resource Center

The National Agricultural Law Center

Search books about agri-tourism

New York Times, November 23, 2007 - Down on the Farm With Your Sleeves Rolled Up

Increase your online agri-tourism presence:

Visit some of the best San Luis Valley agri-tourism websites: