Abstract The Rutgers Agritourism Working Group has discovered that in today’s economy their clients have had to shift their efforts from growing for the wholesale market to the direct sale of fresh and value-added products to local residents and visitors. The team’s research has shown that 1 out of every 5 New Jersey farms is now engaged in agritourism, generating an estimated $57.5 million in annual revenue statewide. Along with these changes come new needs: the growers need educational assistance on topics such the “experience economy”, farm visitor safety, using social media and other agritourism topics related to this new customer-producer dynamic. The team secured $40,000 from the U.S.D.A. Specialty Crop Block Grants in collaboration with New Jersey Farm Bureau (NJFB). Using these funds, the team designed and hosted the first Rutgers Agritourism Conference. The conference consisted of a one day conference repeated in three locations on three separate days. The target audiences were livestock operators and crop producers currently involved in agritourism, or considering agritourism on their farm. Attendance at the three conferences totaled 211 farmers and policy-makers/enforcers. Comments from attendees reflect the value they derived from the conference, including statements like: “The program was worth more than $100” (a modest $10 registration fee was charged)! “This program far exceeded my expectations!” “The program was well thought out, hit many subjects, and was good for people starting out in agritourism and for those of us who have done this for years.”

Results of the Rutgers Agritourism Conferences Michelle Infante-Casella1, William Bamka1, Jenny Carleo1, Sue Colucci2, Peter Furey3, Nicole Goger3, Stephen Komar1, Lucas Marxen1, Meredith Melendez1,

Jack Rabin1, Samantha Rozier Rich4, Brian Schilling1

1 Rutgers NJAES Coperative Extension, 88 Lipman Dr., New Brunswick, NJ 08901; 2 North Carolina State University Extension, 740 Glover St., Hendersonville, NC 28792; 3 New Jersey Farm Bureau, 168 West State Street, Trenton, New Jersey 08608; 4 North Carolina State University, Campus Box 8004, Raleigh, NC 27695;

http://njsustainingfarms.rutgers.edu/agritourism.html

Materials and Methods The workshops were funded by a $40,000 USDA Specialty Crop Grant and offered in collaboration with the NJ Farm Bureau and Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension. The goal was aiding farmers in beginning or honing existing agritourism operation skills. The conferences were held in 3 locations. We developed advertisement brochures, posted the events on web site calendars, blog posts, Facebook, newsletters, newspapers and via other media outlets to attract potential participants. Team members presented lectures which includes members from North Carolina State University Extension.

Results and Discussion Participants overall felt that the conference was well worth their time whether they were experienced in the agritourism field or just beginning to think about agritourism as an option for their farm. 100% of survey respondents felt that the conference met their expectations, 36% felt that the conference was above their expectations, and 35% felt that the conference was far above their expectations.