Agritourism describes the act of visiting a working farm or any agricultural, horticultural or agribusiness operation to enjoy, be educated or be involved in activities.

Examples of agritourism are...

• farm tours for families and school children,
• day camps,
• hands-on chores,
• self-harvesting of produce,
• hay or sleigh rides, and
• overnight stays in a bed and breakfast.

Some people become involved in agritourism as a way of supplementing their income. Others desire an opportunity to educate the public and introduce people to farming.  August 2007 . . . Agritourism

• Agricultural Tourism, University of California Small Farm Center, University of California, Davis - This site provides information on managing an operation, a review of agritourism in Great Britain and New England, and a database of agritourism operations.
• Agritourism Health and Safety Guidelines for Children, National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety, 2007 - This 40-page online document provides guidelines to reduce the risk of illness and injury to children visiting farms.
• Agritourism and Nature Tourism in California, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, revised in 2005 - This for-purchase workbook was written to help farmers and ranchers determine their tourism potential; it outlines the steps of establishing a tourism enterprise.
• Agritourism: An Economic Opportunity for Illinois, Illinois Institue for Rural Affairs, 2003 - This guide outlines a five-step planning process and keys to success.
• Agritourism Briefing in Iowa, Iowa State University Extension Value-Added Agriculture Program, July 2005.
• Agri-Tourism Workbook, Agri-Business Council of Oregon, 2003 - This is a guide to discovering new ways to build a successful agriculture business through direct farm marketing.
• Alternative Enterprises and Agritourism Economic and Rural Community Development People Resource Directory, National Resource Conservation Service, January 2004 - This is a directory of national, regional, state and local professional staff and entrepreneurs involved in the direct marketing of agricultural products and other on-farm and ranch agritourism activities.
• Alternative Enterprises and Agritourism: Farming for Profit and Sustainability Resource Manual, Natural Resource Conservation Service, 2004 - This online manual contains 2,300 pages of reference material. It is divided into 20 chapters. Subjects covered include rural tourism, agritourism, nature tourism, heritage tourism, business planning, liability insurance, marketing, funding programs and resources. The manual is also available in CD or in a paper copy.
• Becker Farms & Vizcarra Vineyards is a 340-acre working fruit and vegetable farm and winery at Gasport, New York, that sells directy to the public. In addition to family and group apple and pumpkin picking, the farm offers a petting zoo, hay rides, pony rides and summertime weekend festivals.
• Bloomsbury Farm - This Atkins, Iowa, operation includes a 10-acre corn maze, pumpkin patch, petting zoo and goat walk, play area, concessions, party barns, greenhouse and more.
• Cagle's Dairy of Hickory Flat, Georgia, claims to be the "only dairy in Georgia to milk the cows and put the milk in the jug right here on the farm." The farm specializes in farm tours for school children.
• Can a Farmer Make Money with an Outdoor Recreation Sideline? Michigan State University Extension - This study reviews outdoor recreation businesses from a Michigan perspective.
• Considerations for Agritainment Enterprise in Georgia, University of Georgia Extension, 2002 -  This online guide includes information on entertainment farming activities, marketing plans and management issues.
• Considering an Agritainment Enterprise in Tennessee? Agricultural Development Center, Agricultural Extension Service, University of Tennessee - While aimed at a Tennessee audience, this document provides helpful information on the pros and cons of establishing an agritainment enterprise; developing a marketing plan; management issues including insurance, labor and biosecurity; and examples.
• County Line Orchard, Ag Marketing Resource Center - County Line Orchard, located in Hobart, Indiana, claims to be the closest pick-your-own apple orchard to downtown Chicago. The 40-acre orchard is operated by the McAfees, a fifth-generation Indiana farm family. Apples are ripe from mid August until the end of October. The farm hosts tens of thousands of students and teachers for educational tours.
• Cultivating Agritourism, Ag Marketing Resource Center, Iowa State University, October 2006 - Agritourism is defined as the connection of tourism and agriculture. The main goals of the travel industry are to increase visitation and extend overnight stays, which in turn expands revenue. 
• A Dairy Disneyland, Cooperative Partners Online, Oct. 11, 2001 -  A Door County, Wisconsin, dairy farm embraced tourism and expanded to better accommodate visitors to their 575-cow operation.
• DeKalb Farm Tours - Producers in DeKalb County, Illinois, have opened their farms to the public for scheduled tours. Located one hour west of Chicago's O'Hare Airport, groups have the choice of visiting farms that raise beef, corn, soybeans, dairy, hogs, sheep and other specialty crops.
• Direct Farm Marketing and Tourism Handbook, University of Arizona Extension - This guide is designed to help producers market their products and services directly to consumers.
• Duncan Family Farms, Market to Market, Iowa Public Television, Jan. 18, 2002 -  Arizona farm bolsters sustainability through tourism.
• Eckert's Country Store & Farms of Belleville, Illinois, is a seventh-generation family operation that is regarded as the largest pick-your-own orchard in the United States. The farm offers three locations outside of St. Louis. The farms, which are family entertainment centers, feature children's activities, annual events, a country store and restaurant.
• Entertainment Farming and Agri-Tourism, Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (ATTRA), September 2004 - This site provides ideas and information on such topics as educational tours, festivals, educational activities, petting zoos, mazes, merchandise to offer, liability and handicap accessibility.
• A Farmer's Guide to Hosting Farm Visits for Children, University of California Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, University of California, Davis - This guide outlines considerations and ideas for hosting farm visits for school children.
• FarmStop.com - This Web site is a searchable database for agritourism locations.
• Field of Fun, August 2004 - Corn maze fundraiser to benefit local 4-Her's.
• For Higher Profits, Healthier Land, Alternative Enterprises, Natural Resources Conservation Service - This document provides an overview of agritourism and examples of farm-based tourism enterprises.
• Garst Farms Resort, October 2004 - This profile of an Iowa operation focuses on a total farm experience with additional activities provided, such as a star-gazing tour, guided nature walks and fishing. In 2007, the resort was donated to Whiterock Conservancy and renamed Whiterock Resort.
• Growing Family Fun, March 2006 - This profile details one operation turning to agritourism. This is a third-generation family business that manages corn and soybean production 14 miles northeast of downtown Des Moines, Iowa, and located just five minutes from I-35 and I-80. Darrell and Malinda Geisler manage the business.
• Heritage Tourism, Alternative Enterprises, Natural Resources Conservation Service - How to use your land’s legacy to benefit the public and boost your bottom line.
• Host It and They Will Come, Cooperative Partners Online, Sept. 4, 2003 - The Comstock Windmill Festival draws tens of thousands of music fans to a remote farm in the Nebraska Sandhills.
• How to Do an Advertising Effectiveness Study via Mail Survey - This model by the University of Minnesota’s Tourism Center is designed to gather and measure data on the effectiveness of advertising. Link to sample mail survey, University of Minnesota Extension.
• In the Eyes of the Law, Legal Issues Associated with Direct Farm Marketing, University of Minnesota, 2002 - Authored by attorneys, this publication provides insight into liability issues and steps to reduce risks any time the public comes onto farm property. The publication costs $10 per copy. To order by phone, call 612-624-4900 or visit www.extension.umn.edu/catalog/.
• Liberty Hill Farm, Ag Marketing Resource Center, Iowa State University, October 2003 - This Vermont dairy farm turned to agritourism to boost the farm's income and found a niche supplying a farm experience for children and families.
• Maize Valley is a diversified direct farm market enterprise in Hartville, Ohio. Bill Baken and his wife, Michelle, joined the family farm business following college in 1985. The farm market includes a bakery, deli and the sale of fresh produce. In addition, the enterprise has a greenhouse business. During seasonal times of the year, Maize Valley operates an agritourism business that includes an 11-acre corn maze, wagon rides, petting pasture, concessions, kids play area and more. New for 2005 was the addition of a winery to complement the farm market. 
• Measures to Prevent Disease Associated with Animals in Public Settings, National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, Inc., 2005 -  This document provides guidelines on petting zoo areas and hand-washing stations.
• Milking the Tourist Trade, Cooperative Partners Online, Sept. 15, 2002 - The Young family of Ohio has expanded its retail store to include activities for all ages.
• Napa Yolano Harvest Trails, Small Farm Center, University of California - A guide to agritourism sites in Yolo, Solano and Napa counties in Northern California. The site contains more than 90 agritourism listings.
• North American Farmers’ Direct Marketing Association - This organization sponsors an annual direct marketing conference, trade show and bus tours that feature agritourism topics.
• Obstacles in the Agritourism Regulatory Process: Perspectives of Operators and Officials in Ten California Counties, Agricultural Issues Center, University of California - Examines local regulatory obstacles facing California farmers and ranchers interested in agritourism operations.
• Opportunities for Rural Tourism, National Agricultural Library, Washington, D.C. 
• A Primer on Agritourism and Ecotourism Startups and Management, Small Farm Center, University of California, Davis - This for-purchase publication contains material to use to assess whether to seriously consider entry into or expansion of an agri or nature tourism operation.   
• Promoting Tourism in Rural America, Rural Information Center, National Agricultural Library, USDA, 2004 - This guide covers major issues in rural tourism and provides more than 50 links to online guides and resources.
• The Robb Family Farm is a sixth-generation farm in Vermont. The farm milks Holstein cows, makes and sells maple syrup and offers hay rides, sleigh rides, tours and special events.
• Sharp's at Waterford Farm is a family farm located at Brookeville, Maryland. It markets pick-your-own and wholesale pumpkins. Sharp also offers farm tours, hayrides and campfires and grows greenhouse plants.
• A Snapshot of Tennessee Agritourism, University of Tennessee, October 2004 - A total of 210 existing agritourism enterprises were successfully contacted in the fall of 2003 to participate in a survey by the Tennessee Agritourism Initiative. The purpose of this study was to identify characteristics of the agritourism industry in Tennessee and to identify issues and obstacles faced by agritourism enterprises that may be addressed through research, teaching and outreach.
• Starting a Bed and Breakfast/Farm Vacation Business, Michigan State University.
• Taking the First Step: Farm and Ranch Alternative Enterprise and Agritourism Resource Evaluation Guide, Natural Resource Conservation Service, January 2004 - This workbook is to help farmers and ranchers identify alternative income-producing agricultural enterprises and agritourism opportunities. The guide helps farmers and ranchers make an assessment of their natural, family and community resources to prepare for the next step of developing a business and marketing plan.
• Targeting School Groups for Agritainment Enterprises: Summary of a schoolteacher survey in Tennessee, University of Tennessee.
• Tourism Resources, Rural Information Center, National Agricultural Library, USDA.
• Treinen Farm of Lodi, Wisconsin, is a third-generation family farm. The farm features a horse-drawn hay wagon and sleigh rides, skating, a pumpkin patch, a mini-maze and 10-acre corn maze.
• Western Profiles of Innovative Agricultural Marketing was published by the Western Extension Marketing Committee to highlight and examine some of the key ingredients of how several operations in the West have migrated from a traditional commodity-focused business into a successful direct marketing enterprise.

Links checked February 2008.