t Photo courtesy of Boyd Family Farm in Wilmington, Vermont q Photo courtesy of Liberty Hill Farm in Rochester, Vermont
tissue, creating a system that is greater than the sum of its parts by linking consumers to producers and promoting environmental stewardship. What are the benefits of your program? Agritourism contributes to rural community development and the conservation of agrobiodi - versity by valuing traditional food cultures and heirloom crops. While agritourism is beneficial for visitors (or consumers) in many ways, pro - ducers also benefit. They benefit by generating additional sources of income, creating more jobs on the farm, and creating different types of jobs that require different skills. This can be especial - ly valuable for farm families wanting to keep the next generation on the land, whether it is their own children or new and aspiring farmers. An - other benefit for producers is the opportunity to
share their agricultural heritage and educate the non-farming public about food, fiber, and fuel production and the stewardship of healthy eco - systems and working lands. Farmers and other agritourism enterprise operators learn skills such as marketing, customer service, and hospitality, as well as how to handle safety and liability issues that arise when farms open to visitors. How does your program use research? We conduct regular needs assessments for produc - ers and agricultural service providers. In 2019, we conducted a nationwide survey of producers and published the results in a variety of formats, includ - ing fact sheets. (See Vermont producer responses in the “What’s in Agritourism For Me?” infograph - ic.) We used these results to develop new resources that producers identified as priorities.
is an ideal way to raise awareness of the value of farms and to promote agricultural literacy. It educates visitors about farming and allows them to experience how food, fiber, and fuel are produced. Agritourism also provides a way for visitors and the community to connect with natural spaces and access local products. Public understanding and appreciation of the value of agriculture is a critical part of sustaining farms and rural communities. Agritourism also diversifies income streams for producers, which helps farms remain economical - ly competitive. And it promotes the development of viable working landscapes, vibrant communi - ties, and healthy ecosystems, which are the build - ing blocks of sustainable and regenerative food systems. Small and medium farms are connective
Q & A Lisa Chase Natural Resources Specialist
University of Vermont lisa.chase@uvm.edu
What issues does your program address in your communities?
Spending time on farms and celebrating agri - culture was a regular part of life for most Amer - icans 100 years ago, when 70% of this country’s employment was in agriculture. Today less than 2% of U.S. employment is on farms. Agritourism
28 The NET Effect | Extension Foundation/NTAE
Extension Foundation/NTAE | The NET Effect 29
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