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Kentucky Agritourism Events

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About Agritourism

History of Kentucky's Agritourism Industry    

In FY 2000, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture began receiving a substantial number of calls and inquiries from across the state requesting services relating to agritourism. Due to the loss of tobacco income, there had been an increase in the number of farms seeking diversified sources of income from the farm. Many producers needed assistance in marketing their agritourism enterprises.

As a result, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture initiated the Kentucky Agritourism Working Group to discuss ways to improve and promote the viability of a state-wide agritourism industry sector. Over the course of several months, the Kentucky Agritourism Working Group created an issue white paper entitled, "Establishment of an Agritourism Industry in Kentucky". The Goals and Recommendations that were outlined in the white paper were as follows:

  • Goal #1 - To address the insurance and infrastructure needs of the agritourism industry sector.
  • Goal #2 - To provide new and expanded tourism-based economic opportunities for displaced tobacco farmers and farm families including: job development, new markets, networks and product development.
  • Goal #3 - To market agricultural tourism in Kentucky, nationally, and internationally as a new and unique visitor experience.
  • Goal #4 - To provide education and support to farmers and agribusiness regarding agritourism opportunities, networks, and entrepreneurship.
  • Goal #5 - To provide capital and business assistance for farmers and agritourism to increase viability, sustainability and growth of agricultural tourism businesses and services.

The white paper also outlined six recommendations for the agritourism industry in Kentucky.

  • Recommendation #1 - Create a statewide Master Plan for Agritourism, based on the recommendations of the Kentucky Agritourism Working Group.
  • Recommendation #2 - Assign responsibility for implementation of the Master Plan.
  • Recommendation #3 - Develop an agritourism website to aggressively market the industry sector in state, nationally, and internationally.
  • Recommendation #4 - Develop Regional Agritourism initiatives through local tourist commissions, regional  matching funds areas, and the state.
  • Recommendation #5 - Form an Agritourism Education Task Force to develop and promote agritourism training and certification programs.
  • Recommendation #6 - Establish permanent resources for the continued development of a statewide Agritourism Opportunity Outreach Program and aggressive marketing plan addressing impediment issues such as insurance and capital access.