Is my Business, Farm or Ranch in Agritourism?

According to the global agritourism definition, agritourism includes any activity that brings visitors to a working farm or ranch for the purpose of education, enjoyment, or connection to agriculture. This short self-assessment will help you explore whether your current or planned activities align with agritourism practices and identify opportunities to strengthen your offering.

Whether you are already welcoming visitors or just beginning to explore the idea, this tool is designed to provide clarity, spark ideas, and help you take the next step with confidence.

1. Do visitors come to your farm for hands-on experiences?

• Workshops (poultry processing, gardening, canning, homesteading)
• Horseback riding, equine lessons, or trail rides
• Beekeeping demos or honey extraction
• Pottery, fibre arts, blacksmithing, or artisan skills
• Farm tours, orchard walks, greenhouse visits

If you teach, demonstrate, or guide, that's agritourism.

2. Do people visit your farm to pick, taste, or harvest something?

• Berry or flower u-picks
• Pumpkin patches or seasonal harvest events
• Vegetable u-picks or dig-your-own potatoes
• Apple, sour cherry, haskap, saskatoon, or strawberry picking

If people harvest food or flowers on your land, that's agritourism.

3. Do you sell directly to visitors on your farm?

• Farmgate sales of pork, beef, bison, lamb, eggs, or poultry
• Market Garden stands or CSA pickups
• Farm stores, freezers, or coolers on site
• Value-added products (jams, pickles, honey, baked goods)

Direct sales on your farm count as agritourism.

4. Do you host people for recreation or relaxation?

• Farm stays, cabins, camping, or RV spots
• Corn mazes, forest trails, a haunted farmhouse, wagon rides
• Picnics, walking trails, or nature experiences
• Photography sessions or special-occasion visits
• Goat yoga, herbal wellness, or mindfulness on the farm

If people come to learn or stay on your land, that's agritourism.

5. Do you host events or gatherings?

• School field trips or youth group visits
• Farm-to-table meals or tastings
• Seasonal festivals or open houses
• Alberta Open Farm Days
• Workshops – poultry, flower arranging, pork rearing, blacksmithing, gardening
• Small celebrations, workshops, or community events

If people gather on your farm, that's agritourism.

6. Do you share your farm story with the public?

• Social media posts about farm life
• Educational signage or demonstrations
• Inviting customers to "see how it's grown"
• Sharing your heritage, history, or family traditions

Storytelling is a core part of agritourism.

See My Results Reset Assessment