Agritourism Intensive 2015 - 2016
Participants learned about the variety of potential businesses, including farm stands, U-Pick operations, event hosting, tours, festivals and outdoor recreation. Each participant received a free copy of “Agritourism and Nature Tourism in California." The handbook, published by UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, was used as the text for the class. Attendees heard from experienced agritourism operators and experts in business planning, risk management, regulatory compliance and marketing. Class instructors provided individual guidance and helped participants form a supportive network as they planed and developed their own agritourism or nature tourism businesses.
Plumas class agenda Plumas class flyer
Stanislaus class agenda Stanislaus class flyer
Shasta class agenda Shasta class flyer
Funding for this project was provided by the Washington State University Western Center for Risk Management Education, the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
Handouts and Presentations:
Handouts: These were printed and passed out to class participants.
- A list of suggested online reading materials
- Farm Stay Agritourism 101 from Farm Stay U.S.
- How to Develop a Farm Tour, from University of Vermont Extension
- How to Develop a Pick-Your-Own Business, from University of Vermont Extension
- How to Host Weddings on Your Farm, from University of Vermont Extension
- Sample budget for on-farm festival courtesy of Cindy Lashbrook, Riverdance Farms
- Developing a Hunting Program on a Ranch or Farm by rancher Bill Burrows
- Evaluating the Financial Potential of an Entertainment Farming/Farm Tourism Business from the University of Georgia
- Assessing Your Resources worksheet (part of Homework assignment #1)
- Assessing the Agritourism and Farm-Based Education Potential of your Region and your Farm Property, from West Virginia Agritourism Initiative (part of Homework assignment #1)
- Follow-Up Recommendations "Asking the Right Questions and Getting the Right Answers" by Sophia Pagoulatos, Supervising Planner, city of Fresno
Class Presentations and additional handouts:
- Welcome to the Workshop Series, by Holly George, UCCE Plumas-Sierra
- Sierra Valley Farms Agritourism, by farmer Gary Romano
- Wemple's Pumpkin Patch, by Dena and Fred Wemple
- Pictures from Dutch Hollow Farm, Modesto, courtesy of farmer John Bos
- Evaluating your Resources; Is Agricultural Tourism for You?
- Assessing the Agritourism Potential of your Region (includes Plumas Co. workshop participants' group responses)
- Google Earth Overview, provided by Holly George, UCCE Plumas-Sierra
County Environmental Health and Planning Department Information
- Environmental Health Department, Plumas County, from Debbie Anderson, Plumas County Environmental Health Dept.
- Stanislaus County Department of Environmental Services: A Partnership in Agritourism and Environmental Health, from Janis Mein, Stanislaus County
- Shasta County Environmental Health Department forms and information, from Fern Hastings, Shasta County Environmental Health Dept.
- B&B guidelines
- Cottage Food Operations water
- Cottage Food Operations self-cert checklist
- Cottage Food Operations FAQ
- Cottage Food Operations label requirements
- Cottage Food Operation Application
- Special Event Coordinator application
- Guidelines for Temporary Events
- Temporary Food Facility application
- Temporary Food Facility self-inspection checklist
- Food Facility application
- Housing Establishment application
- Shasta County agritourism activities allowances by zoning district
- Shasta County agencies and department contacts
- Shasta County Home Occupation and B&B zoning ordinances
- Stanislaus County Land Use and Building Permit Information, from Angela Freitas, Stanislaus County Planning Department
Tourism Partners
- Stanislaus County Tourism, from Keith Boggs, Assistant Chief Executive Officer, Economic Development, County of Stanislaus
- Stanislaus County Agritourism, from Trina Walley, Stanislaus Grown
- Visit Redding - Introduction to the Tourism Community
Business Planning
- Business Planning Handouts from Kurt Clark, Alliance Small Business Development Center, Modesto:
One Page Business Plan outline
10 Key Considerations to Starting a Business
Developing a Mission Statement for Your Business
Mission Statement examples
Mission vs. Goals vs. Strategies vs. Activities
Managing by Goals
One page business plan from Farm Credit
- Intro to Business Planning, from Kristin York, Sierra Business Council Small Business Development Center
- Financial Planning, Budgeting & Cash Flow, from Rick Leonhardt, Feather River College, Quincy
- Linked income, profit-loss projection forms
- Integrated financial statements
- The Key Steps of a business plan
- Presentation: Financial Management: Pricing and Budgeting for Agritourism, from Rutgers University Cooperative Extension
- Prosperity Business Wheel, from Nancy Swift, Jefferson Economic Development Institute (JEDI)
- Ready to be an Ag Entrepreneur? - preliminary evaluation of your personal potential
Marketing Strategy
- Sharing your story, Reaching your audience, Growing your business, from Michele Laverty, Never Boring Design, Modesto
- Creating a Marketing Strategy, from Danna Straud, Sierra Nevada Conservancy
- Marketing Strategy Discussion, from Pam Giacomini, Hat Creek Ranch
- Effective websites and social media for agritourism, from Sarah Potter, Sarah Potter Designs
- Websites and Social Media for Agritourism, from Katie Bagby, Katie Bagby Coaching, Feather River Land Trust and Quincy Collective
- Effective websites and social media for agritourism, from Kallie Markle, Visit Redding and Rocky Slaughter, Sugar Pine Media
Liability, Safety and Risk Management
- Introduction to Risk and Landowner Liability issues, from Ramiro Lobo, UCCE and Rusty Rumley, National Ag Law Center
- Integrating Safety into Agritourism Checklists booklet, from www.safeagritourism.com
- Agritourism Emergency Preparedness Workbook from Ohio State University Extension
- Emergency Preparedness for Agritourism Operations, presentation based on Agritourism Emergency Preparedness materials created by Julie Fox, Eric Barrett, Rob Leads and Dee Jepsen, Ohio State University Extension