Completed Project Report


Agritourism Intensive 2020: Managing the Risks of Agritourism for California Farm and Ranch Diversification

  • Award Amount: $49,961
  • Regional Center: Western Extension Risk Management Education Center
  • Grant Program: 2020 Education Projects

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Project Overview

This project delivers strategies for understanding, assessing the opportunities, and managing the risks of operating agritourism enterprises on small-scale farms and ranches, using a peer-reviewed agritourism training manual, incorporating learning from previous workshops and other states' Extension agritourism training programs and partnering with local producer organizations and support professionals. The project organized local planning teams involving experienced agritourism operators, tourism professionals and agricultural support organizations, tailoring each workshop series to the needs of regional small-scale producers. With the local planning teams as advisors, we offered a series of three workshops in two different California regions. At the first workshops, 61 producers increased their knowledge of possible enterprises, liability and market assessment and assess the risks, costs and benefits of current or planned agritourism businesses. At the second and third workshops, 24 participants began drafting business, marketing and risk management plans and connecting with a supportive network of peers and advisors. Six months after the last workshop, 6 completed business plans, 18 are implementing action plans, emergency plans or new marketing strategies, and 3 are making changes to reduce legal risk.

Number of Participants: 91

Outcomes

Project Steps

PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS

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EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS

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REPORTS & EVALUATIONS

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DELIVERY AREA

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