Agritourism Highlighted at Starting and Improving Farms Conference

The Penn State Extension New and Beginning Farmer team hosted the Starting and Improving Farms Conference in Middletown, PA, on September 23 and 24, 2025. The two days were filled with presentations, tours, exhibits, workshops, and networking opportunities.

On the first day, attendees connected with new and existing farmers as they toured regional farms. The agritourism team planned and led the agritourism tour visiting:

Cherry Crest Adventure Farm: A 25-acre adventure farm with numerous activities for adults and children alike.

Verdant View Farm: A small farm offering direct-to-consumer beef sales, farm stays, tours, and engaging hands-on farm experiences.

Lapp Valley Farm Café and Creamery: A retail ice cream operation with on-site ice cream manufacture that expanded from on-farm processing.

Farm owners shared the history and evolution of their farms into agritourism destinations with the tour attendees. They also discussed how they have navigated various business aspects, including insurance, regulations, and staffing. The visitor experience is crucial to agritourism, and each host described how they ensure a positive visitor experience. Tour attendees enjoyed exploring each farm and engaging with the hosts. Key lessons learned from the visits included the importance of collaborating with local zoning and regulatory officials from the outset, identifying your strengths and developing a niche in the market, and continually exploring future options.

Day two of the conference addressed the best business practices for startups and expansion. Attendees participating in the agritourism track sessions learned about essential research to conduct before launching agritourism activities, as well as marketing and pricing strategies. They also discussed questions specific to their agritourism venture or plans with other farmers and extension personnel.

Here is a list of resources for the most discussed topics during the tour and conference session:

Pennsylvania Agritourism Activity Protection Act 27 of 2021

Legal and Regulatory Considerations for Agritourism in Pennsylvania

Pricing Agritourism Events and Experiences

Agritourism Insights: Marketing Tools for Agritourism Operators

Agritourism Diversification: Lavender Production

Agritourism Diversification: Low-cost and Low Maintenance Overnight Farm Stays

Roadside Signage for Farm and Agritourism Operations

You can find more articles and resources at our website: Agritourism at Penn State