NDSU ExtensionGlenn Muske - glenn.muske@ndsu.edu

UNL - ExtensionConnie Hancock – chancock1@unl.eduJenny Nixon – jnixon1@unl.eduJay Jenkins – jjenkins2@unl.edu

Objective

• Self-directed course focused on helping agritourism operators plan for:

– Being online – Understanding the online experience and the “experience economy”

– Getting found – Being online just isn’t enough– Being customer focused – Provide what the

customer wants and needs– Telling others – Having customers tell your story

AgriTourism defined• Organize a profitable enterprise that brings

consumers to a farm or ranch – Goal: Provide an opportunity for the customer to: • Enjoy & relax, • Be involved• Purchase products • Learn

AgriTourism

Merging 2 industries

What Rural Travelers Like To Do

• Dining-70%• Shopping- 58%• Water Activities- 44%• Visit Historical Sites-41%• Fish/Hunt/Boat- 32%• Attend Festival/Fair-29%

• Bike Riding/Hiking- 24%• Religious Service- 23%• Camping – 21%• Sporting Events – 18%• Visit Winery/ Visit Farm/Orchard - 15%

Source: TIAA, 2001 Rural Tourism Travel Poll

Endless PossibilitiesOvernight Stays:

Special Holiday/Seasonal Events:¤ Corn maze¤ Pumpkin patch¤ Harvest festivals

Hospitality Services

Retail Sales: Local Produce and Farm Products Sold at the Farm Gate

Recreational Activities and Tours:¤ Wineries and vineyards¤ Cattle drives¤ Horseback riding¤ Bird watching/Wildlife

watching

Youth and/or Adult Education

¤ Nature education programs: wildlife, trees, plants, etc.

¤ Demonstrations: cheese making, wine making, etc.

AgriTourism

• It’s not new• Shorter, closer to home vacations more

common• Getting back to nature and rural roots growing– 66,000,000 wildlife watching participants in US

• Want to know our farmer and where our food is grown

Build it and they will come

It’s a myth!

Getting the Word Out

Online with websites and social networking is changing the look of marketing.

Do you need a website?

Yes!

And more!!!!!

NDSU ExtensionGlenn Muske - Glenn.Muske@ndsu.edu

UNL - ExtensionConnie Hancock – chancock1@unl.eduJenny Nixon – jnixon1@unl.eduJay Jenkins – jjenkins2@unl.edu

Marketing AgriTourism Onlinehttp://go.unl.edu/agritourism