Cut to the Chase -- A New Kind of Tourism

A New Type of Vacation
By Samantha Warner

With the price of gas and current state of the economy, many Missourifamilies find it more difficult to take big, extravagant vacations. More people are taking advantage of the thriving agritourism industry across the state.
People who do not come from an agriculture background see agritourism as a way to experience farm and ranch life and educate their children while vacationing as a family. A driving force behind this is the increasing "local food" movement and an interest in where food comes from and how it is produced.
Some popular attractions in Missouri include: corn mazes, pumpkin patches, you-pick produce farms, trail rides, farmstead bed and breakfasts, Christmas tree farms, and educational activities geared towards elementary students.
Even though there are many great rewards for farmers and ranchers involved in agritourism, there are challenges to overcome. How to handle the liability of guests and how to best market a destination are among them.
Missouri Farm Bureau understands the importance of agritourism to its members and has an Agritourism Advisory Committee to help address challenges faced by the industry. Missouri Farm Bureau is committed to helping farmers succeed in pursuing agritourism opportunities, while also connecting the consumer to the product. To assist in this process the MFB website has a page dedicated to agritourism.
To access the page go to www.mofb.org, and click on the "Marketing & Commodities" tab. When the marketing page loads, click on the "Missouri Agritourism" tab - this will lead you to a listing of over 400 agritourism sites around the state just waiting for you and your family to come explore.
Whether you are a farmer looking to supplement your income by sharing the lifestyle you love with others from a non agriculture background, or you are looking for a local and unique vacation experience, give Missouri agritourism a try.
(Samantha Warner, of Archie, Mo., attends Missouri State University, and is a summer intern for Missouri Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization.)