The US Farm Stay - National Extension Tourism

The U.S. Farm Stay NOT Italy’s Agriturismo yet (ever?)
Scottie Jones
U.S. Farm Stay Association
NET 2015 Conference
Original title:
U.S. Farm Stays – Modeling a European Travel
Experience.
Founder and Executive Director, U.S. Farm Stay Association
Sheep farmer/Farm Stay host, Leaping Lamb Farm, Oregon
• Who knows what a farm stay is?
• Who has been on a farm stay in the U.S. or Canada?
• Who has been on a farm stay outside of North America?
European Farm Stay Movement – 1980s
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■
■
Concerned about rural out-migration and vibrancy of
small farms
1983 Farm Holiday Bureau established – now Farm Stay
UK
1985 Italian government passed national agritourism law;
provided financial support for infrastructure
Today you find them as…
!
Villas, estates, houses, campgrounds, ecopods, self-catering cottages
With accreditation standards…
!
AA, lodging, state/region/county, tourism
awards
Organized through associations, websites,
designations & regional brands…
!
Farm Stay UK, Italy’s Agriturismo, Bienvenue a la
Ferme, Featherdown Farm Days, Eurogites
http://www.farmstay.co.uk/
http://www.redrooster.it/en/
Video: https://youtu.be/75EvBs79qjw\
!
America’s western experience - long tradition
(Red Rock Ranch, Jackson WY)
http://www.farmstayus.com/
Today there are about 1000 farm stays across
the country …
Working farms, ranches, and vineyards offering
lodging
That might be…
!
A farm house, cottage, platform tent, yurt,
airstream, campsite, converted barn
With views like…
!
Mountains, prairies, deserts, coastal, plains,
deltas, basins
With amenities like…
!
Fluffy beds, outdoor showers, hot tubs, wellequipped kitchens, shared baths, oil lamps
And meals that are…
!
Home cooked, organic, chef made, not made
at all (you’re on your own!)
Including activities such as…
!
Feeding chickens, herding livestock, milking
goats or cows, picking veggies in the garden,
stomping grapes
That might end up in…
!
Breakfast, a cooking class, cheese-making
lessons, wine tasting, weaving lessons
And that allow…
!
Kids, dogs, horses, weddings, events
All hosted by farmers, vintners, and ranchers
Challenges for U.S. Farm Stays
1) Travelers: What’s a farm stay?
2) USDA: Farm stays? Is this really ag?
3) Travel and Tourism: Agritourism, the new kid
1) What’s a Farm Stay? videos
•If you think a farm stay is boring… think again
•If you think a farm stay is dirty… think again
•If Farmville is your idea of farming… you might try this
!
2) USDA – the conundrum
•Is agritourism really ag?
•Ag people know about ag, not travel
•What is the avenue necessary to find support
similar to Europe?
3) Travel and Tourism:
•Agritourism – where does it fit?
•Agritourism – who’s paying for it?
•The “sharing economy”
Airbnb, Trip Advisor, VRBO, Homeaway,
Booking.com, HipCamp…
The chicken or the egg?
Ag or Tourism? Ag AND Tourism
What we need…
• USDA grants to fund marketing of farm
stays (local, regional, national) similar to
farmers’ market grants - until well
recognized
• Support for U.S. Farm Stay Association as a
national brand with tourism dollars from
every state to help increase number of farm
stays and number of travelers to farm stays
• Which will encourage more farm stays to
open…which will enhance farmer income…
which will educate urbanites about local
food…and on and on
Thank you!
(What’s a Farm Stay Music Video?)
Scottie Jones
U.S. Farm Stay Association
Alsea, OR 97324
541-487-4966
[email protected]