Anyone looking to start or expand an agritourism business or interested in diversifying a farming or ranching operation should plan to attend the first-ever Oklahoma Agritourism Field Day.
Set for July 17 at Moore’s Flying M Ranch in Inola, Oklahoma, the free, one-day event is open to the public, though registration is requested by visiting www.oksbdc.org and clicking on the “Get Training” tab.
Field day topics will include marketing, exporting an agritourism business, available resources, agritourism legal and liability issues, funding options, creating business plans, social media and diversifying agritourism businesses.
From “u-pick” experiences, hunting, mazes and trail rides to country stays, farm and ranch attractions and farm-to-table ventures, the popularity of agritourism enterprises seems to be on the rise in Oklahoma, said Lisa Bryant, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension business development coordinator.
“Agritourism appears to be a growing and viable venture for Oklahoma’s farmers and ranchers who are looking to diversify their operations’ revenue stream,” Bryant said. “Risk management is one reason people start an agritourism venture, but I’ve also noticed an increase in couples who are buying land after retirement and hoping to generate additional income or who desire to leave a legacy for their children.”
Currently, there are 350 venues listed on the Oklahoma agritourism website, www.oklahomaagritourism.com, operated by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry.
The field day is a collaboration between the Extension Service, Oklahoma Small Business Development Center and the ODAFF.
“The Oklahoma Cooperative Extension, OKSBDC and ODAFF are pleased to pool their resources and expertise to offer this program,” Bryant said. “This is a great opportunity for interested Oklahomans to learn about the business, marketing and legal aspects of creating and operating a successful agritourism venue.”
For more information about the field day, contact Bryant at [email protected].