This page is dedicated as a resource for farmers, food system partners and community members interested in agritourism.
What is Agritourism?
Agritourism can be defined as a form of commercial enterprise that links agricultural production and/or processing with tourism to attract visitors onto a farm, ranch, or other agricultural business for the purposes of entertaining and/or educating the visitors while generating income for the farm, ranch, or business owner.
The Importance of Agritourism For Farmers
Farmers find both financial and non-financial benefits to including agritourism as part of their business model. Agritourism allows farmers to diversify operations, spread financial risk, and maintain farmland in production.
There are many agritourism models employed by our area regional farmers. Some include:
- farm stands or shops
- farm stays, weddings and events
- farm tours
- u-pick
- on-farm classes
- youth camps
- fairs and festivals
- pumpkin patches, corn mazes, and Christmas tree farms
- wine tasting and harvest dinners
- and more!
Helpful Resources
Getting Started in Agritourism (pdf)
A Cooperative Extension guide from Cornell University on to how to begin, what visitors expect, customer relations, income streams, liability, and marketing. Includes an Agritourism Enterprise Checklist and other useful resources.
University of Vermont Agritourism Resources
Includes helpful resources on getting started with an agritourism venture, financial planning, safety and liability, marketing, farm experiences and webinars.
USDA National Agriculture Library Resources on AgriTourism – a helpful list of USDA linked resources on agritourism.
Agritourism & direct sales: best practices in COVID times and beyond – University of California Cooperative Extension, the Community Alliance with Family Farmers and partners for a series of 8 free virtual trainings in how to build your capacity to sell direct to consumers and build an agritourism business.
Agricultural Marketing Resource Center – Agritourism resource hub.
Agritourism in Washington State: An Industry Profile – WSU Publication
Practical Biosecurity Recommendations for Farm Hosts– WSU Publication
Additional Resources
- WA State RCW 4.24.830 – Agritourism Definition
- Washington State RCW 4.24.835 – Warning Notice
- Senate Bill 5808 (pdf) – Agritourism Civil Immunity WA State – State legislature enacting agritourism immunity law that protects agritourism businesses from liability in certain situations.
- National Agricultural Law Center – Agritourism Immunity Laws in the United States
Agritourism—Warning Notice Sign
Warning
Under Washington state law, there is limited liability for an injury to or death of a participant in an agritourism activity conducted at this agritourism location if such an injury or death results exclusively from the inherent risks of the agritourism activity.
Inherent risks of agritourism activities include, among others, risks of injury inherent to land, equipment, and animals; as well as the potential for you to act in a negligent manner that may contribute to your injury or death. We are required to ensure that in any activity involving minor children, only age appropriate access to activities, equipment, and animals is permitted. You are assuming the risk of participating in this agritourism activity.
Sample: WaFarm_WarningSign (pdf)
Handbook For Small and Direct Marketing Farms
Fact Sheets: Direct Marketing Strategies – These factsheet includes information on:
- Agritourism and culinary tourism.
- Regulations and other considerations.
- Benefits and challenges.
- Additional resources.