Mark Rose, Community Planning Specialist USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Resource Conservation & Development and Rural Lands Division Promoting Agritourism Farmers and Ranchers Taking the First Step to an Agritourism or Alternative Farm Enterprise

Background Operated 1000 acre cash grain farm in Wyandot and Hardin County Ohio until 1992 Assistant Farm Manager of OSU,OARDC Hoytville Crop Research farm. Crop Production, Agricultural Technical Institute, Wooster, Ohio Agriculture, Ohio State University, Columbus 19 years with USDA NRCS – 6 years: Soil Conservationist in Logan and Wyandot Counties, Ohio –13 years: RC&D Coordinator in Oklahoma and Maryland –Community Planning Specialist, Washington, DC

National Survey on Recreation and the Environment ,000 respondents Farm Visits Most visited 1-5 times 2 percent visited up to 20 times 63 million people visited farms Spend an average of $45.00 Travel an average of 80 miles

Keeping the family on the farm and the farm in the family NRCS is providing for technical assistance to keep families on the farm by assisting landowners to assess the natural resources on the farm and identify ways to use and manage these resources alternatively or thru tourism opportunities.

Under the leadership of Jim Maetzold Taking the First Step was published in January This 54 page guide was developed to be used by the farmer or rancher considering ways to improve farm income.

Which way to go? Which way to go is a question the farmer may ask themselves when looking at something different.

Transition into a total new area such as developing a corn maze for tourism. Expand the current operation of pick your own. Diversify and add a new enterprise such as livestock.

Evaluating the Farm Resources Soil Water Plants Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat Livestock and Poultry Air Landscape Buildings Community Family

Worksheets are included for each category of resources considered. Also as an example, the Future Family is included to help guide the decision making process.

Additional Considerations Marketing Alternatives Legal and Liability Considerations Taking the Next Step –C–Consider ideas for the farm or ranch –C–Contact local technical resources –B–Begin developing the business plan

Key Partners in Developing “Taking the First Step” James Maetzold, NRCS Washington, DC Southern Maryland Resource Conservation & Development Board Boyd Byelich, NRCS District Conservationist, Michigan Tom Lucas, RC&D Coordinator, Oklahoma Andrea Clarke, NRCS Economist, Maryland Carol Hollingsworth, PAS, NRCS Maryland Jody Christiansen, NRCS Communications Specialist, Illinois Sue Risbrudt & Karen Mulske, NRCS Caragh Fitzgerald, Maryland CES Claude Deyton, North Carolina CES Joan Schultz, Maryland Dept. of Agriculture

Mark Rose, Community Planning Specialist USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Resource Conservation & Development and Rural Lands Division Washington, DC All programs and services of the USDA and NRCS are provided on a non- discriminatory basis to all individual and groups.