draft powered agritourism

[blue80]

It seems like many of us have/get to have an income opportunity with regards to making our operations available to the public, along with the benefits of educating others about what we are working towards. I hear the cool phrase is coined “agritourism”

I am compiling a list of agritourism possibilities; then trying to fit them into a seasonal schedule against a feasibility schedule of what we can do with low overhead and relatively low experience; While being safe, productive, etc. It seems to be a fine line of “giving the people what they want,” while trying to get done what we need to do….

It seems that different geographic locations will have far diversified agritourism opportunities. I see one of our strengths being a working draft horse farm/tourist trap on a very busy seasonal designated “scenic” highway coming off the Bighorn Mtns. I am thinking a team or two working in a field, with another wagon hitch available to bring people right into the field may bring some interest/income to get started this summer. For an extra fee they can ride right on the (safely set-up) forecart for round or two. Luckily for us, our main goal this year is just to get started. This summer, plowing green manure under, flood irrigating, putting up some loose hay, a pumpkin patch and a sorghum maze I think would get us into the fall season.

So my question, finally, “Does anyone have experience with a ‘stop by for 25 minutes- pee in a clean restroom -have a free drink of ice water -oh take a wagon ride and see some pretty, sweaty horses working in the field for maybe 10 dollars -oh quick get back in the SUV we’re on our way to follow RV’s through Yellowstone’ type of operation.”

If it works, in time we can make and sell ice cream, have interested parties come back for workshops, cook and sell healthy hotdogs at a roadside stand, sell our produce, have overnight solar power ecocabins available for rent, homesteader museum etc. etc.

Getting started seems to be the tough part, and we really don’t know how the community will bear it or what our traffic will be until we get started. And we can’t get started because I’m always gone working to pay for our “stuff” that supposedly is needed to generate income:confused: So to solve this problem, I’ve put all our “stuff” for sale, we’ll see what happens:eek:…..

Long story short, it seems to us that the agritourism opportunities we have may “foot the bill” to allow us to learn and earn our way into farming productivity, and hopefully, profitability. And my wife and I have to remember, what is the cost of not trying it??
Love your thoughts,

Kevin

[jac]

Hi Kevin… I cant offer much advice on the agricultural side as such, but I have been doing draft tourism for 25yrs now in the form of wagon rides and promotions.. You have clearly done a lot of market research. The home made ice cream is always a winner.. Insurance is probly going to be top of the list and believe me it has to be water tight. Another small item that is important is plenty of signs/places for kids to wash their hands after handling animals. Britain has gone “cleanliness” daft to the point of being stupid !! I agree with you that making the 1st step is the hardest. I have spent years collecting the accoutraments that make horse work easy and am now reaping the benefits. You will have a lot of fun and so will your horses. I may just be lucky but I havent had a horse yet that didnt like human attention. One word of warning.. I mentioned this in another thread.. Most tourists when they approach horses seem to have the need to “kiss” or “click” them ??? That, as you know, is most teams message to “go”!!.. Not great when you have someones grandmother half way up the steps at the rear of your wagon..!!!:eek:..Another way that you can make extra money is to offer advertising {appropriate } on the side of your wagon. Perhaps a local market garden or farmers market.. Best of luck anyway and as we say in Scotland “power to your elbow”..
John

[goodcompanion]

I have read recently about a type of agritourism on the rise in the east, the farm-stay. Accommodations generally primitive (cabin or tent, lanterns, woodstove), food and cooking facilities provided, some limited involvement of guests in the working of the farm. Fees in the neighborhood of $150-200 per day.

I can’t say I haven’t considered it! A few weeks a year of having a few guests would defray a lot of expenses. I’m interested in knowing whether any draft practitioners have gone this route.

[Marshall]

My daughter likes for her Dad to take the horses to school for show and tell. Last summer her kindergarden teacher (a gal I went to school with) suggested bringing the kids to our farm for a field trip instead. I got to thinking that maybe I could get started doing something thru the school and see if we could grow from that. I don’t know if it will work out or not but I think I am going to give it a try. I was thinking a tour of the place, a wagon ride, demonstrating how some equipment is used and maybe a short video if I could come up with one about 15 or 20 minutes long. I would appreciate any comment on the “plan”.

[blue80]

John, thanks for the experienced feedback and best wishes!

If one googles “agritourism” and ones geographic location/state, it turns out there are many organizations and news articles which give a broad array of ideas which may pique different interests; again easterners seem to lead the charge….Oklahoma has a concerted effort in this area by the ag department too.
I am amazed reading through what different agricultural entities are doing, and I am a little surprised at how little “working” draft powered farms are spotlighted; Perusing the internet articles, I see pumpkin patches, wineries, dude ranching, corn mazes, and some wagon rides (even with tractors:eek:), but for me at least, there is something awe inspiring about draft animal power. I think we should be at least aware of this market, and some of us may decide that pursuing these possibilities will fullfill both public demand and our own need for profitability; hopefully without the tourism becoming a distraction to our long term operations goals…For some of us it may be a long term relationship with local investors, and others it may truly turn our operation into a seasonal tourist “trap” Either way, it’s a little exhausting thinking of dealing with the public around draft animals. But if it was easy everyone’d be doing it!

Another interesting option is “elderhostels” which basically put people to work the catch being THEY PAY YOU to do it.:cool: I guess there are some people who just want to contribute and be a part of something great!

Agritourism also seems like a definite way to get some free local advertising, which in business is always a boon- if you want to be busier, increase volume, or educate that is.

Kevin

[Carl Russell]

I’ll admit, I like my privacy. I have made a few buck entertaining people using the drafts, mostly in the guise of education, but have stayed away from outright agritourism.

I have several friends that have made side income from fri-sun evening sleigh rides.

Les Barden used to have seasonal “Pumpkin”, and “Xmas tree” rides. Planted 5 acres to pumpkins then charged $5 each to get a wagon ride 3/4 mile through the woods to a beautiful vista where everybody could relax and pick their own pumkins. Did the same thing after thanksgiving with xmas trees, I can’t remember that price. He is in southeastern NH, and has the perfect public for such a thing. He was pretty busy throughout the fall for many years.

Carl

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