CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 09/18/08

Agritourism 101

By Sharon Dowdy
University of Georgia

Farm business isn’t just about raising cows, chickens and corn. From family-friendly corn mazes to on-farm demonstrations, Georgia farmers are finding new and unique ways to market their farms to tourists and keep their businesses from going into the red.

This new and ever-growing enterprise has been coined as agritourism and in 2006 it brought some $27.1 million into the state’s economy. Nature-based tourism brought in an additional $50.8 million, according to the University of Georgia’s Georgia Farm Gate Value Report.

To encourage and educate those interested in joining this field, UGA’s Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development has organized an agritourism conference. Set for Nov. 5 – 6 at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter in Perry, Ga., the conference will include sessions on starting a business, insurance and risk management, taxes and zoning, Web site development and evaluation, signage and marketing.

The conference will also include tours of agritourism operations. “Participants will meet successful owners/operators of agritourism venues, tour their facilities, listen as they share lessons learned, and network with other agritourism advocates,” said Kent Wolfe, a marketing analyst with the UGA Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development. “This will provide potential operators a time to ‘pick the brains’ of those who operate best in class agritourism destinations.”

Judy Randall of Randall Travel Marketing Inc. will serve as guest speaker for the conference. She will discuss national and international agritourism trends and benchmarks.

The conference is designed for both novice and advanced agritourism operators. While new business owners learn about the nuts and bolts of agritourism, current operators can attend brainstorming sessions on the pros and cons of the industry and learn how to identify programs that promote Georgia’s rich variety of agritourism operations, Wolfe said.

There will also be a session geared specifically to agritourism professionals that work in agriculture, tourism, or community and economic development at the local, state or federal levels.

The conference will also include an exhibitor expo, social networking sessions and a regional resource round table. A round table including representatives from agencies, authorities and various governmental entities will talk about programs and funding available to agritourism owners and operators.

For entertainment, Karen Kimbrel and Joy Jinks of Colquitt, Ga., will share their community’s story of building clusters of businesses around a theatrical production, “Swamp Gravy.”

For more information or to register for the conference, contact Wolfe at 706-542-0752 or Carla Woods at 706-583-0347.

Sharon Dowdy is a news editor with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Experts/Sources:
Kent Wolfe
University and state leaders cut the ribbon during the Science and Ag Hill dedication ceremony. (Chamberlain Smith/UGA) CAES News
UGA dedicates first phase of Science and Ag Hill modernization 11/01/24
The University of Georgia held a dedication ceremony on Oct. 30 to celebrate the completion of the first phase of renovations to modernize research and instruction facilities and infrastructure on UGA’s Science and Ag Hill. This area of campus, located just south of Sanford Stadium, includes buildings dedicated to a variety of scientific disciplines such as biology, physics, geology and agricultural sciences.
CAES doctoral students Sofia Varriano and Leniha Lagarde follow farmer Clay Brady to the pasture where many of his chickens are kept. CAES News
UGA researchers study how free-range chickens influence farm sustainability 10/31/24 Maria M. Lameiras
Researchers in the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences are studying how pastured and free-range chickens impact ecosystems on integrated crop-livestock farms. Supported by a $749,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, entomology doctoral student Sofia Varriano and her thesis advisor, agroecologist and systems biology Professor Bill Snyder, are testing the promise of integrated crop-livestock agriculture to increase the sustainability of smaller farms.
Kaytlyn Cobb is now spearheading a historic partnership between the University of Georgia and Fargo, North Dakota-based Grand Farm as regional assistant director. CAES News
Kaytlyn Cobb joins UGA Grand Farm to boost agricultural innovation in Georgia 10/30/24 Sean Montgomery
Growing up in north Georgia’s Franklin County, Kaytlyn Cobb knew her aspirations in agriculture would always lead her to new opportunities. Inspired by her dedicated community and diverse background, Cobb is now spearheading a historic partnership between the University of Georgia and Fargo, North Dakota-based Grand Farm as regional assistant director. Hired in August, Cobb hit the ground running to continue development of the fast-forming ecosystem between Grand Farm, the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and global strategic partners.
Kevan Lamm teaching undergraduate students CAES News
CAES researchers prepare students to address complex challenges of the future 10/29/24 Emily Cabrera
Over the next three years, researchers in the University of Georgia’s Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication aim to transform undergraduate education in agricultural and environmental sciences by integrating systems thinking — an approach that encourages students to see the bigger picture by understanding how different components within a system interact.
Thermal imaging technology could improve the production of fruits and vegetables. CAES News
Thermal imaging may help fruits, veggies stay fresher longer 10/28/24 Savannah Peat
Before your favorite produce arrives at the grocery store, it must be carefully harvested and maintained across long stretches of time. A recent University of Georgia review suggests new temperature measuring technologies could make that process much simpler, amid growing agricultural challenges fueled by fluctuating climates. Maintaining temperature, humidity and light is critical to ensuring fruits and vegetables don’t spoil or deteriorate rapidly. Temperature spikes are the root of adverse outcomes, so monitoring these changes quickly and accurately is key.
At the 2024 Georgia Life Sciences Summit held Oct. 21-22 in Atlanta, Professor Quingguo “Jack” Huang of the College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences received the Golden Helix Innovation Award for his research in technologies to mitigate “forever chemicals” in water resources. (Photo by Andrew Davis Tucker) CAES News
Georgia Bio awards recognize UGA inventor, corporate partners 10/25/24 Carson McAfee
University of Georgia Professor Quingguo “Jack” Huang, Delta Innovation Hub resident Dalan Animal Health, and Athens manufacturer Meissner Corporation were recognized for their achievements in the life science industry at Georgia Bio’s Georgia Life Sciences Summit, held Oct. 21-22 in Atlanta. The Golden Helix Awards celebrate the contributions of Georgia legislative, academic, corporate, and advocacy leaders working to grow the life science industry and foster strategic partnerships that create a healthier world.