Agritourism could play a vital role in keeping small farms alive and thriving in Northeast Ohio.
Agritourism could play a vital role in keeping small farms alive and thriving in Northeast Ohio.
Carlye Davis spoke to about a dozen area farmers about taking advantage of the rising interest in agritourism at The Farm on the Grand River April 29.
“People are very, very interested in farming,” she said, standing in the newly-built pavilion on the farm she and her husband, Russ Peine, have owned for two years. “The tourism industry is booming. There are many ways to attract people.”
She proposed creating an independent agriculture society that would pull together wineries and other small farms in Geauga, Ashtabula and Lake counties interested in sustainability and environmental stewardship.
By organizing, they could promote small farming and market their operations to the public, Davis said.
Agritourism could provide an alternative form of income for a winery or small farm, but only if the tourists know about it, she said.
“Many agritourism farms face the challenge of low visitation rates due to a lack of awareness among potential customers,” Davis said.
By grouping together and accessing available funding, the new organization could advertise locally and reach out through social media and the internet to more distant customers.
Working together, small farms could offer hands-on workshops and demonstrations, interactive exhibits and themed events to enhance visitor engagement, Davis wrote in her presentation.
Educational programs to engage all ages of tourists would foster a deeper understanding of what it takes to operate a farm, she wrote.
“This does not get away from traditional farming. It improves traditional farming and helps all the way around,” she said, adding farmers engaged in agritourism would be motivated to display their operations’ sustainability and environmental stewardship to visitors.
Recreation and entertainment options would benefit the local public, as well as draw tourists to events, Davis wrote, further strengthening the relationship between farmers and the local communities.
Davis proposed creating an independent agricultural society following the organizational procedures outlined in the Ohio Revised Code.
In Ohio, there are 87 county agricultural societies and seven independent agricultural societies, each of which is subsidized by county and state grants, bonds and some private donations, she said.
Basic requirements include a membership of at least 30, election of eight board members, an annual exhibit and land dedicated for a fairgrounds for 20 years, she said. A constitution and bylaws are also needed.
Davis said she has verbal support from the state director of agriculture and the Ohio State University Cooperative Extension Service, and wants to build a positive relationship with the Geauga County Fairboard.
“This would promote some things the fair does not,” she said. “Agritourism is an untapped market. It would make small farms lucrative, preserve the farming heritage of Northeast Ohio and enrich farmers and farmland,” she said.
Davis plans a second meeting in a few weeks. for more information, email her at TheFarmAtGrandRiver@gmail.com.
