Rob: Helping farmers diversify their operations is one of the goals of a
two-day Agritourism workshop scheduled for this November.
Earlier I spoke with Abby Cash, the director of Agritourism for the state
of Oklahoma.
So, how would you describe agritourism to someone that's not involved in
agriculture?
Abby Cash: Agritourism is really the crossroads where agriculture and
tourism meets.
So when we talk about agritourism, we're really talking about any
agriculture based tourism attraction.
So, anything from pumpkin patches, corn mazes, you pick your own berries
operations to something more extensive like a guest ranch, a winery or
something more permanent.
So agritourism is a very, very broad range of activities, and in our
state, with over 500 agritourism based attractions and events, it
really is a wide scope of activities.
Rob: So while these certainly sound fun,
there's also the economic side.
How does agritourism benefit our entire economy?
Cash: You know, Rob, for a long time we've been talking about how our
family farmers in our state and across the country are really
struggling to make a living on the family farm.
And here in Oklahoma, we have seen agritourism prove to be one successful
form of on farm diversification.
So, across the state we see people doing everything from
incorporating a small agritourism experience that may be a seasonal
attraction like a hunting venue, a pumpkin patch or a corn maze to something
more extensive that encompasses more of their time and more of their
operation, like a guest ranch or maybe a winery or something that's like a
yearlong attraction on their farm.
So we see people do everything from have the opportunity to create a
little bit of money for retirement to bringing a whole other generation
back to the farm to run the agritourism enterprise.
So all across our state, one of the most exciting things that we see is
people really having the opportunity to stay on their family farm, keep
their farm in the family, bring another kid back to the family farm, because
of the success they've had incorporating one diversification tactic of
agritourism.
Rob: And I think that's an interesting point and interesting dynamic, that
we are seeing people that normally may not have returned to the farm, but
returning to the farm to do something that has a little bit of
entertainment in it.
Cash: That's right.
You know, today, agritourism is the fastest growing segment of the
global travel and recreation market.
So we have an incredible opportunity here in Oklahoma.
Today, we have incredibly rich western heritage in our state; we have diverse
eco regions from one end of our state to another.
So the potential is really ripe for agritourism in our state, and we have
people that are seeing that and really capitalizing on the
opportunities that it creates for their farm.
And one of the exciting things that we see with agritourism is not only is
it a wonderful thing and a successful form of diversification for
farmers and ranchers, but it's also proven to be a wonderful thing for rural
communities, and just another thing that we have to bring people to rural
communities and get them to stay longer.
So, in that respect, agritourism is really
exciting for the state of Oklahoma.
Rob: Yeah, and a very important point, every time you bring someone
into town, it helps everybody.
Cash: That's right.
Rob: Tell me a little bit.
How can someone find out more information if they would be interested in
this type of business?
Cash: Well, really, our agritourism program has two facets; the first
facet of our program is really, resource development, and product
development, and then on the other side of that is marketing the businesses
once they're up and running.
So, if someone is interested in maybe just helping to evaluate their
resources, or consider getting a little bit of help getting started,
please call us.
We have two coordinators in the field that work with producers on a daily
basis to really sit down with you and help you survey what you might have
that might be of benefit for tourists, and to really help you assess
what you want with an agritourism business.
You know, we have producers that maybe don't want somebody in their
backyard all year long, but maybe they are willing to have guests for a short
term, like a hunting season, or fall season, or during berry season,
whatever it might be.
Or maybe they are ready to incorporate a full time experience like a guest
ranch with an international base, that type of thing.
So, the first thing I would encourage you to do is just to call us.
We'd be happy to come out and help you, bring people from the Department of
Tourism out to help you identify your target market and see what the
options might be for your farm.
But more than anything, we just encourage producers to look at your farm or
ranch and find what's unique to your place, because there's so many
wonderful things in our state that we really don't have to duplicate
experiences, and there's enough opportunity for all of us to be involved.
So, please contact us, we'd be happy to help you.
Rob: And there's a great opportunity coming up next month where people can
meet other people doing agritourism and learn more, and it's a
conference in Ardmore.
Tell us about it.
Cash: That's right.
On November 6th and 7th in Ardmore, we're working with the Noble Foundation
to bring our first ever statewide Agritourism Conference.
And at our conference on the day of the 6th, we're going to do a series of
farm tours, an agritourism farm tour and an alternative agriculture
farm tour where people will really have the option to mingle with
other producers who are doing or considering doing agritourism.
And this creates a wonderful networking opportunity that we know
our producers are kind of hungry for.
The other thing that we're excited about is bringing in speakers from all
across the country on November 7th, including one of the leading
agritourism experts, Jane Eckert; a motivational speaker from Dallas, Keith
Lowry; an insurance agent from Nebraska, to really help people package up
that alternative agriculture insurance.
We have an incredible lineup of speakers, and we're really, really
excited to bring this opportunity to our Ag producers.
Rob: IF someone wants to register for this or learn more, how do they do that?
Cash: As always, they can visit us online at www.Oklahomaagritourism.com
Rob: Okay, and we will have a link
to your website on our website at OkHorizon.com
Abby Cash, thank you so much for being here.
Cash: Thank you, Rob.