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Agri-tourism; A Strategy Toward Sustainable Farm, Business, Family and Community DevelopmentVirginia Cooperative Extension L. Dawn BarnesAndy Overbay: 

Agri-tourism; A Strategy Toward Sustainable Farm, Business, Family and Community Development Virginia Cooperative Extension L. Dawn Barnes Andy Overbay

Agri-tourism : 

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 : 

Where We Started North Carolina Cooperative Extension Task Force Asset Mapping Grant Application Additional people join efforts

SOUTHWEST DISTRICT : 

SOUTHWEST DISTRICT

Results of Survey : 

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

Slide6: 

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? Yes No 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 ______________________________________________ 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 : 

What has been Accomplished Two educational workshops By-laws Follow-up system for requests Speakers during partner’s conference Tour of local establishments Newsletter

Slide8: 

Home Stays Lifestyle Farming

Slide9: 

Educational, Pick Your Own, Outdoor Activities

“Mountain Vistas”: 

“Mountain Vistas” The Agritourism Newsletter Of Southwestern Virginia

Why Agritourism?: 

Why Agritourism?

Traditional Ag in SW Virginia: 

Traditional Ag in SW Virginia Burley Tobacco Conventional Dairy Farming Beef Cattle Small Ruminants: Goats/Sheep

The State of the Commonwealth’s Agriculture: 

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: 

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 part-timers) work off the farm more than 200 days per year Resource: USDA 1997 Census of Agriculture

The State of the Commonwealth’s 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: 

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: 

Taking Aim at the Situation

Enter Mountain Vistas: 

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: 

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??: 

What’s in the Future?? Coffee Chat Sessions Continued Partnerships Additional Educational Opportunities ???

State Leadership Contact: 

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