Agritourism

Upcoming Agritourism Events
Introduction to Agritourism in Arkansas
The Pilot Project and a Statewide Initiative
Arkansas Agritourism Initiative Partnership
Future Goals
Downloads
Related Links

Upcoming Agritourism Events

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Introduction to Agritourism in Arkansas

Agritourism is providing Arkansas with a natural way to retail and promote what we currently have in our state. Also, agritourism is beginning to realize its potential to provide significant benefits to people in rural Arkansas – higher local incomes and the creation of new jobs, most notably. Until two years ago, though, there had not been a formalized effort to promote awareness and development of the industry in the state.

In July 2006, leaders from the agriculture and tourism industries in Arkansas convened at the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute, just west of Little Rock, to discuss the steps that needed to be taken in order for agritourism to be raised to the level of visibility it enjoys in other states around the country. At this “strategic conversation,” the discussion ushered in the early stages of the agritourism initiative in Arkansas. Along with the identification of key stakeholders in the state, a major outcome of this meeting was the adoption of a formal definition for agritourism in Arkansas:

Agritourism in Arkansas is defined as any activity, enterprise or business which is designed to increase farm and community income through combining the essential elements of the tourism and agriculture industries. Agritourism attracts members of the public to visit agricultural operations by providing recreational and/or educational experiences that build public awareness of rural life.

This definition has helped to steer work across Arkansas over the last two years.

The Pilot Project and a Statewide Initiative

Preparations for the “strategic conversation” provided an impetus for the Rockefeller Institute to apply for a USDA Rural Business Opportunity Grant (RBOG) in order to conduct a pilot project in the Arkansas River Valley Region. The purpose of this pilot project was to research and develop an understanding for the potential agritourism has as an economic development model for rural areas of the state. The intention was to spread principles adopted and applied through the pilot project to other parts of Arkansas. The RBOG was awarded in October 2006 and work on this pilot project continued through February 2009.

In addition to work in the River Valley, statewide organizations/agencies have been collaborating to identify and assess the potential for a formalized statewide agritourism industry in Arkansas. With over 400 current and potential agritourism sites identified across the state, it is necessary to provide these enterprises with an easily identifiable and accessible source of support. After deliberations among participants from the July 2006 meeting and continued nurturing of the effort through the Arkansas River Valley Pilot Project for Agritourism Development, the Arkansas Agritourism Initiative (AAI) partnership was formed in July 2008 to be this source.

Arkansas Agritourism Initiative Partnership

The following organizations/entities make up the AAI partnership:

The goal of AAI is to facilitate the strategic development of the agritourism industry in Arkansas. Each partner provides support in planning, promoting and generating funds to support the various projects and strategies of the Initiative.

Thus far, AAI is accomplishing its mission through a number of different efforts: training and information-sharing workshops being held across the state; the publication of a quarterly newsletter that provides insight into agritourism-related activities in Arkansas; a partnership with multiple convention and visitors bureaus to coordinate farm visits for out-of-state and international travel groups; and, an online inventory of agritourism enterprises and industry-related research at www.arkagritourism.org.

Future Goals

While a great deal has been achieved in just over two years, there is significant work left to be done here in Arkansas. The agritourism industry, while growing throughout the state, still needs many issues addressed not only for the current providers to reap all the benefits from their land, but also to strongly encourage farmers and landowners not currently engaged in the industry to consider this as a sound model for diversifying and increasing revenue on their land.

In order for this to happen, the Arkansas Agritourism Initiative partners feel the following activities should take place over the next three years:

Refinement and additions to www.arkagritourism.org. Continue to provide an up-to-date database of agritourism farms and activities, as well as relevant research and resource information for both the provider and the consumer.
Formation of an Arkansas Agritourism Association made up of agritourism providers. The Association will serve as the collective voice for agritourism providers across the state.
Drafting and enactment of key legislation with a focus on limiting liability for agritourism related activities on the farm.
Conduct regional events intended to promote agritourism to both providers and consumers. Information about the initiative, the Web site and training workshops will be distributed.
Production of regional agritourism “trail maps.” These maps will serve as a cooperative marketing opportunity for farms/activities located in regions of the state. The maps will be distributed through local chambers of commerce, convention and visitors bureaus, and other tourism-related entities.
Establishment of an Arkansas Agritourism Office with dedicated industry support staff.
Conduct a statewide educational needs assessment and economic analysis of potential and current agritourism providers based on the River Valley pilot study.
Conduct workshops to show emerging leaders in the agritourism industry how to use the Agritourism in Arkansas Resource Guide and how to lead future workshops based on the content of the guidebook.
Facilitate local workshops in Arkansas, which will be conducted by the trained agritourism leaders and promoted to current and potential agritourism proprietors from Arkansas and bordering states.
Create an online, graduate-level distance education course based on the content of the agritourism guidebook to be offered through the University of Arkansas.

Downloads

Download more information about agritourism in Arkansas:

Agritourism in Arkansas: A Resource Guide for Farmers and Landowners
This business guidebook to agritourism in Arkansas focuses on business management and finance; legal issues; policy issues; and marketing communications. Free printed copies of this publication are available at your local Cooperative Extension Service office or at the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute.