This website serves Farmers and Ranchers in the Kansas AgriTourism Industry.
For family outings, go to http://www.travelks.com

Welcome to Kansas AgriTourism!

This website has been developed specifically for Kansas farmers and ranchers involved in AgriTourism, rural properties where the traveler has an opportunity to experience farm and country life far from the hustle of the city.
The site is a project of the Kansas Agritourism Advisory Council, working in cooperation with:
the Kansas Agriculture Marketing Division and the Travel and Tourism Division of the Department of Commerce
and with financial assistance from Frontier Farm Credit.
We invite you to explore this website to find a variety of articles and resources that will help you succeed in agritourism.
If you have any questions, please contact the Department of Commerce, Travel and Tourism Division, and ask for the Agritourism Liaison.
The Kansas AgriTourism
Advisory Council
 
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Mailing List

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News and Feature Story Archives:

click to go to:

Kansas AgriTourism News

(statewide agritourism newsletter)

Feature Farm Destination Archive:

March 2005
Chicken N Pickin' Farm, Walnut, Kansas
AgriTourism Becoming Big Business in Kansas

April 2005
Swanson Farms
Hunting for the Life They've Always Wanted

May 2005
Kuhrt Ranch
The Prairie Castle Bed & Breakfast

June 2005
Fulton Valley Farms
Boot Scootin Barn

July 2005
Cedar Valley Farm
They Just Want To See a Real Farm

August 2005
Holy-Field Vineyard & Winery
Mastery, Mystery theatre, Music, Mood, and Marketing

September 2005
Harvest Farm, Turon, Kansas
"Let's Try that pumpkin idea of yours."

October 2005
Renyer's Pumpkin Farm
"A Turning Point"

November 2005
Covert Creek Lodge
In the Middle of Nowhere, Surrounded by Everywhere

December 2005
Prairie Elf Christmas Trees
It's All About the Experience!

January 2006
Barrel Springs Hunt Club
When One Door Closes, Another Opens

February 2006
Blue Sky Farm
Thinking Big by Thinking Small!

March 2006
Kansas Alpaca Company
She's Much More Than Just Another Pretty Face!

April 2006
Trader's Lodge
Destination Dining

May 2006
Fieldstone Enterprises
For a Quick Round of...Apples?!

June 2006
Grassland Gardens
Science and Art Equals a Career

July 2006
Windswept Winery
Taking the Long Road Back to Kansas Wine Country

August 2006
Rees Fruit Farm
Enjoy an Apple Cider Slush at the Oldest Commercial Fruit Farm in Kansas

September 2006
Cole Family Farm
This Family Is Thinking "Community"

October 2006
K.C. Pumpkin Patch
Best Practices Strategy Pays Off!

November 2006
Poore Farm
Hunters Are Going to the Poore Farm!

December 2006
Delps Christmas Tree Farm
Guessing the Nine Year Forecast

January 2007
Spearpoint Ranch
Good Research Results in Steady Growth

February 2007
Lazy D Outfitters; A Hunter's Perspective

March 2007
Dunns Landing; Teaming Up Weddings and Horses

April 2007
The Wide Open Spaces; Gypsum Hills Trail Rides

May 2007
Just a Working Cattle Ranch; Flint Hills Ranch Experience

June 2007
Planning Your Marketing Strategies, by Jane Eckert

July 2007
Customer Information Leads to Better Farm Marketing, by Jane Eckert
Ag Clusters: Working Together Results in Big Harvests of Tourists, by Jane Eckert

August 2007
E-Newsletters Allow Marketing Crops the Same Day They Ripen, by Jane Eckert

September 2007
Where Do We Grow From Here?, by Jane Eckert

News Archives

(Some links may no longer work...depending on when the home site removes the story. If you find a broken link, please email the webmaster.)

8/17/07 NYS Announces $59,000 to Improve Winery Websites

8/14/07 Colorado's AgriTourism Market Climbing

8/8/07 Web Site Will Allow Consumers To Shop Farmer's Market Online
Shoppers Could Place Order, Pick Up Food

8/6/07 Barnyard mixes education and fun

8/1/07 Red barn stands the test of time

8/1/07 Agritourism farmers must master marketing

7/31/07 Teachers pluck tasty tidbits at seminar

7/27/07 Who’s farming the land?

7/27/07 Local farmers market is open for business

7/27/07 Harvesting New Ideas: Ambitious Maverick Farms promotes local food - and the future of farming

7/27/07 Our View: Farmer's market a welcome addition

7/27/07 Inns & Wineries of America's Heartland

7/20/07 First Issue of Flint Hills Heritage Newsletter Released

7/15/07 Seeds of agritourism prove fruitful to family farms

7/16/07 Support new generation of farmers

7/15/07 Farm's main 'crop' is happy children

7/15/07 Kentucky: Horse Farms Only Part of the story

7/12/07 Grape Expectations: Take a mini-vacation along area's Coastal Wine Trail

7/13/07 Train comes in for upstate farmers
Amtrak, New York officials tout $1 million initiative that promotes "agritourism"

7/9/07 Family Farms Sell Directly to Restaurants, Consumers Through Farmers' Markets

7/6/07 Cherry-Crest finds its way to the top

7/8/07 Get a taste of farm life by harvesting your own produce

7/3/07 Tennessee increases farm diversification funding

7/3/07 Farmers and Communities Getting Grayer

7/2/07 Commerce Department Offering Money for Agritourism Development

6/27/07 Agritourism Scholarships for 2007; First Due Date is Aug 1st

2/22/07 Farmers seek help to get attractions insured

2/21/07 Promoting tourism on the farm

2/18/07 Would you pay to pitch hay?

2/17/07 Old McDonald gave a tour of his farm

2/15/07 Creative thinking expands family farming business

2/13/07 Crowd listens to ideas

2/6/07 It's not a dirty job if somebody gets to do it with less toil, no soil

2/5/07 Vineyards are a growing trend

1/18/07 Kansas Dept of Commerce Announces Funding for Tourism Attractions

1/6/07 Speaker: Agritourism helps farms stay viable

1/5/07Illinois Farmers Making More with Less by Selling Direct

12/18/06 Ag tourism goes main Serious producers are getting serious about one of agriculture's fastest-growing sectors

12/13/06 Farmers, ranchers turn out to help reinvent ag

12/10/06 Farmers market gets festive for holidays

11/19/06 Missouri’s agriculture helps nurture tourism

11/12/06 Farmers Market ends year with fresh growth

11/1/06 Cultivating Agritourism

10/31/06 Funds to raise tourism on farms

10/30/06 Farmers need to multitask in order to keep up with bills

10/20/06 Agritourism business hurting

9/26/06 Documentary On Farming Debuts

9/25/06 Area farmers combine tourism, agriculture to keep business going

9/25/06 Expanding wine industry lures entrepreneurs in many fields

9/25/06 CNN Presentation Features Walters' Pumpkin Patch

9/21/06 State looks to boost agritourism

9/21/06 Georgia farms attract tourists

9/21/06 The new face of farming

9/19/06 Next-generation family farm is anything but the simple life

9/11/06 Vintage roots: Agritourism helps Huber family's heritage come into fruition

9/8/06 Ripe for the pickin': Pick-your-own popularity grows

9/8/06 This Area Farm is Entertaining!

9/8/06 Grant funds provide help for new ideas around the farm and ranch

9/8/06 Working dude ranch offers adventure for visitors

9/7/06 Five ways to have fun this fall with the kids

9/7/06 Agritourism legislation becomes law

9/3/06 Under the rainbow:Kansas Roadside attractions range from prairie to prehistoric

9/2/06 Rural appeal, Vineyard owners lead N.C. agritourism group

8/30/06 Policymakers' ignorance on farm issues disturbs ag council

8/29/06 State farmers offer mixed picture

8/28/06 Fabled farm flees march of suburbs

8/27/06 To farm or to sell? Wisconsin agriculture in land use quandary

8/23/06 Cornfields call city slickers back to the farm

8/18/06 Draft Horses Flex Farm Muscle

8/16/06 Agritourism waiting for a sign

8/10/06 Eckert to Present at Minnesota Grown Marketing Conference

8/6/06 FIVE QUESTIONS: Hope grows on trees

8/3/06 Agritourism brings farm life to city kids

8/1/06 Hay Rides, Dude Ranches and Corn Mazes

7/29/06 More dairy farmers switching to organic; state offering help

7/29/06 Take a ride on Indiana’s wine trails

7/27/06 Purdue Wine Grape Council helps promote Indiana wine industry

7/27/06 Fading of farm life

7/12/06 Farms see business opportunities in ‘agritourism’

7/10/06 Agriculture sector important to Oklahoma economy

7/9/06 Don't be an empty suit; read up on latest words

7/8/06 Agritourism Enters the Dictionary

7/6/06 Most U.S. farms are smaller family operations

7/3/06 Regional agritourism council formed

6/29/06 Crowded crops-Farms give way to homes, but not everyone's selling off

6/28/06 Michigan Forms Farm Marketing and Agri-Tourism Association

6/24/06 State board to handle agritourism

6/21/-6 Time is ripe for strawberries-Enjoy their sweet flavor at pick-your-own farms

6/23/06 New entity to handle agritourism efforts

6/23/06 Farmer John Says: Know the Folks Who Raise Your Food

6/21/06 Market gains--They're cropping up in more communities, and that's good for farmers

6/21/06 A place to learn and play in the dirt

6/19/06 Farmer-owned eatery educates D.C. diners

6/9/06 Highway signs point to agri-tourism 'hidden gems'

6/6/06 Don't sell the farm, reinvent it

6/1/06 Ninety-eight percent of U.S. farms are family farms

5/9/06 Farr Secures Millions For California Agriculture; House Committee Approves Agriculture Appropriations Bill

4/14/06 Women and Wine

4/11/06 State linking agriculture, tourism efforts

4/6/06 Symphony in the Flint Hills Sells Out

4/5/06 Award-winning Kansas winery plans to expand

4/4/06 Northwest Kansas Experience: Agri-Tourism Plus...

3/31/06 Kansas Council on Travel and Tourism Appointees

3/30/06 Wine by mail moves a step closer to legality

3/28/06 Let’s give agritourism a chance

3/15/06 Selling the Good Life, Sharing country lifestyles with the public—for a price

3/14/06 No more sour grapes for state wineries

3/13/06 California group development plants seeds for 'agritourism' Farmers see chance to preserve lifestyles

3/8/06 Farmers markets fresh out of new growers

3/4/06 No sour grapes as wineries proliferate

3/3/06 (Ireland's) Reputation as a welcoming nation must not be taken for granted

2/28/06 New Michigan agri-tourism association formed

2/26/06 Decision on wineries hurts economy, environment

2/26/06 Delayed reaction to wine ruling

2/25/06 Kansans' Taste for Crop Growing

2/15/06 Boutique crops in, pineapples out in Hawaii

2/15/06 Calif. farmers launch agritourism project

2/13/06 Quad City, Iowa wine industry takes root

2/10/06 Bill Easing Out-of-State Wine Sales Clears Senate

2/10/06 (IN) Senate OKs change in wine-sales rules

2/10/06 (WA) Senate OKs change in wine-sales rules

2/9/06 Vineyard began as a post-retirement plan

2/2/06 Committee Advances Bill to Expand Sales by Kansas Wineries

2/1/06 St. James Missouri Winery Recognized by National Wine Publication

1/25/06 Kansas wineries worry about proposal to end direct sales

1/24/06 Focus group calls on cities in county to work together

1/24/06 N.C. Agritourism Networking Association Forming

1/22/06 Kansas wineries waiting for vote

1/17/06 Commerce Awards Funding for Tourist Attractions

1/17/06 Former park ranger now a buffalo rancher

1/05/06 The End of Hunting?

12/27/05 North Carolina Group forms to foster agritourism

12/15/05 Kansas Farms Featured on
America's Heartland (PBS)

12/10/05 That's Agritainment!

11/08/05 Proposal to limit ag tourism in Calaveras halted

10/26/05 Local Pecans Are Superb

10/24/05 Time Magazine, That's Agritainment! More family farmers are turning their homesteads into tourist attractions in an effort to turn a profit

10/21/05Add Your Name to the “2006 What’s New In Kansas” List

10/19/05 Grants aim to advance agritourism in Kansas

10/17/05 Green acres

10/13/05 New Jersey Farmers, Strapped for Cash, Make Hay With Corn Mazes

10/11/05 A-maze-ing Cornfields

10/9/05 Winery law's unconstitutionally tangled vines

10/8/05 Family farm turned into ‘agritourism’ site

10/8/05 Psst! You Pick It, but They Grow It Someplace Else

10/2/05 Fun-filled fall festival Corn maze, haunted house among attractions

10/2/05 Kansas winemakers nearly double; State sees room for growth beyond 13 operating wineries

10/2/05 Scenic California farms grow tourist dollars

9/30/05 Chuckwagon jamboree heading to Park City

9/29/05 Farm tour hopes to grow agritourism in county

9/29/05 Apple allure Sweet, crunchy fruit fills orchards with pickers, grinners

9/28/05 A treasure for tourism Report encourages state to tap prairie on the plains

9/21/05 Farming Family Giving Agritourism A Try

9/18/05 Hue knew? Leaf-watchers get particular

9/17/05 Favorite wineries just a bus ride away

9/15/05 Kansas Wine Scores Big at the State Fair

9/15/05 Corn Maze Honors U.S. Open

9/13/05 Farmers make big bucks with outdoor outfitting

9/14/05 Officials Want to Use State's Strength to Boost Economy

9/13/05 Pizza farm shows slice of agricultural life

9/12/05 Cannon launches agritourism

9/12/05 Experience local Farms during the Kaw Valley Farm Tour

9/7/05 Agri-tourism: $240 a Night plus Chores

9/6/05 See fall foliage — by balloon, ATV or train

9/6/05 State's Vintners Toast a Recent Boost in Tourism

9/3/05 KANSAS! Magazine Fall Issue Sings

9/3/2005 Farmers sell the rural experience along with fall produce

9/1/05 Agritourism' becomes Calif. cash crop, Income from visitors helps farmers survive

8/14/05 Winning Wineries

8/13/05 Farmer tries hand at agritourism

8/12/05 Preparation is vital for a successful agritourism venture

8/11/05 Blueberry fans find their field of dreams

8/9/05 Entrepreneurship through AgriTourism Class

8/8/05 Growing the Farm: Harbor Springs family diversifies to survive

8/5/05 Websites agritourism marketing tool

7/29/05 Udall Couples Vineyard and Winery Are Result of Years of Hard Work and Dedication

7/28/05 Senate passes Bleeding Kansas National Heritage Area legislation

7/26/05 Legislators Approve Tougher Petting Zoo Regulations WNCN-TV Raleigh, N.C.

7/25/05 Floodgates Open for WineMakers-International Herald Tribune

7/21/05 U-pick, U-Win! Detroit Free Press

7/19/05 Farming's future Number of farms declining, but size of operations increasing

7/14/05 Agency gives Missouri, Kansas agriculture research grants- K.C. Business Journal

7/14/05 Liability issues major impediment for agritourism initiatives Indiana AgriNews

7/14/05 A shrinking crop of young farmers

7/10/05 Program puts money behind state effort on agritourism Wichita, KS

7/05/05 Kansas Department of Commerce Designates $25,000 for AgriTourism Scholarships

6/29/05 Galley Girl: What's Cookin'?(Time Magazine)

6/29/05 Groups Goal: Retain, Recruit Family Farms (Madison [Wisc] Daily Leader)

6/22/05 Agritourism in Italy

6/22/05 Get Down To the Farm (Newport News, VA)]

6/16/05 Oklahoma Agri-tourism may see more investments (Claremore Daily Progress)

6/7/05 County pays to preserve farmland

6/4/05 New Hampshire Farm Bureau takes stand on taxation (Portsmouth Herald)

6/2/05 Pennyslvania Lawmakers want to save more farms; Bill would increase state spending on land preservation

6/1/05 Women Find Their Place in the Field (New York Times)

6/1/05 California Farm Bureau Survey shows strong support for California family farms

5/19/05 New Hampshire Offering Farm Stays Since 1950 (Travel Video TV)

5/17/05 (BBC News) Small family farms 'may vanish'Farming is being squeezed by low food prices

5/12/05 Attraction Development Grant Program

5/12/05 Fertile Fields for Tourism (L.A. Times)

5/6/05 2006 Kansas Visitor's Guide Advertising Opportunities Booklet and Forms

4/29/05 NASS study shows family farms still have a role

4/26/05 Kansas Agritourism Scholarship

4/21/05 Constellation, Wegmans, RIT, foundation seek permission from board

4/20/05 Farmer's Market Sells Meat Products

4/19/05 Tourism in Ithaca

4/5/05 Commerce Announces New Director of Travel and Tourism

4/5/05 State names new tourism director

4/4/05 Birds help their own cause by attracting watchers

4/2/04 Agritourism new bright spot in travel industry

4/2/05 Small farms numbers are large, sales small

3/23/05 Heritage Farms, Connecticut

3/22/05 Official 2005-2006 Kansas Transportation Maps

3/21/05 Ag Has a Big Impact on Nation

3/20/05 Increase Reported in Women-run Farms

3/16/05 Blackdog workshop seeks people to re-create history

3/16/05 Bottling an Easter Egg hunt

3/13/05 Women on the Hunt: Female hunters in Midland take aim, join growing trend

3/10/05 Rancher hopes to open first winery in Churchill County (Nevada)

3/8/05 Attractions Recieve Funding from City of Olathe

3/8/05 Urban dwellers go rural at Singapore’s hot new tourist attraction

3/7/05 Wineries' PR effort yields bunch of additional visitors

3/7/05 Trail boosts wineries, tourism Tasting event lures visitors to Huber's, Turtle Run, others

2/25/05 - Kansas AgriTourism Initiative Moves Forward, Kansas Department of Commerce

2/23/05- Group Tour 101 Workshops for Those Interested in Attracting Group Tour Business, Kansas Department of Commerce's Travel and Tourism Development Division.

2/23/05-Maine farmers rave about Boston forum (NAFDMA) , Bangor Daily News.

2/23/05- Agri-Tainment: Farms and Entertainment, White Hutchinson.com

Kansas Brand Tool Kits Now Available Online!

Pumpkin Patch Receives State Tourism Grant...

Agri-tourism Becoming Big Business in Kansas...

Tampa Couple Wins Trip to That Other Well Known Tampa...

`Bleeding Kansas National Heritage Area Act"...

Free the grapes! And the crudites!

Wisc. AgTourism Assoc. Elects Directors...