Ag Tourism Resources

Ag Tourism
Ag tourism is the marriage between two of Alberta's top industries - agriculture and tourism. It presents the consumer or tourist with an opportunity to engage in a direct exchange of values between themselves and the farm community - whether it is at a farmers' market, on a farm tour, at an agriculture festival or fair, or at a country vacation farm or market garden. Ag tourism is a collection of ag-based attractions, events and services:

Attractions
Heritage farms and ranches
Farm recreation and visits
Ag industry tours
Events
Festivals
Fairs
Rodeos
Conferences/trade shows
Horse and livestock shows
Services
Tour operators
Retail
Food and beverage
Accommodation

Cluster Development
A cluster is a group of like-minded stakeholders and operators who come together to increase the profile for their operations and geographic area, along an ag tourism theme. Cluster development is an internationally recognized economic development process. We know that the ag tourism industry in Alberta can benefit from this process by using agriculture as a theme to link dispersed operators. Through cluster partnerships ag tourism operators can: access new markets, boost profile and awareness, and increase the overall appeal and draw to a region - ultimately resulting in increased profits.

Alberta Agriculture and Forestry factsheets and resources:

Country Vacation Enterprise Agdex 888-2.
Country Vacation Profit$...profit planning tools in a start-up country vacation enterprise Agdex 888-1.
Providing Farm Tours Agdex 888-4.
Managing Risk For Farm Direct and Ag Tourism Ventures Agdex 845-10.
Opportunities in Ag Tourism Ventures Agdex 888-8.
Biosecurity Considerations for Ag Tourism Ventures Agdex 888-7.
Establishing Ag Tourism Routes Agdex 888-5.
Coordinating Ag Tourism Familiarization Tours Agdex 888-6.
Ag Tourism Cluster Development – The Process.
School Tours Decision Making Tool factsheet and e-book Agdex 888-11
School Tours Calculator: This online calculator is a budget for organizing on-farm school tours. The income and expense figures you will come up with when completing this calculator are projections based on experiences supplied by several farms that operate school tours. Please read the fact sheet, School Tour Decision Making Tool, for information on a school tour enterprise before completing the online calculator. It will help you understand what choices best fit your situation.
Corn Maze Decision Making Tool factsheet and e-book Agdex 888-12
Corn Maze Calculator: This online calculator is a budget for building and operating a corn maze. The income and expense figures you will come up with when completing this calculator are projections based on experiences supplied by several farms that operate corn mazes. Refer to the factsheet, Corn Maze Decision Making Tool, for information on a corn maze enterprise before completing the online calculator. It will help you understand what choices best fit your situation.
Don’t Fence Me In: An idealetter for those providing a cowboy experience.

Other factsheets and resources:

For more information about the content of this document, contact Eileen Kotowich.
This document is maintained by Delores Serafin.
This information published to the web on October 18, 2013.
Last Reviewed/Revised on July 16, 2018.