Agritourism: What does it mean for Rural NC?

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1 Agritourism: What does it mean for Rural NC? Carla Barbieri, Ph.D. Agritourism & Societal Wellbeing Parks, Recreation & Tourism Management North Carolina State University Duarte Morais, Ph.D. People-First Tourism North Carolina General Assembly Committee on Cultural and Natural Resources March 20 th, 2014

in NC Norris Farm (Boonville, NC) o People-First

2 Agritourism: What does it mean for Rural NC? Overview Defining agritourism Rural micro-entrepreneurs in NC Norris Farm (Boonville, NC) o People-First Tourism Does it really work? o Three levels of analysis o Three dimensions

The Meaning of Agritourism Agritourism (USDA Census) Income from recreational services such as hunting, fishing, farm or wine tours, hay rides, etc.

3 The Meaning of Agritourism Agritourism (USDA Census) Income from recreational services such as hunting, fishing, farm or wine tours, hay rides, etc. Agritourism in NC ( ) Myron Smith Benson (NC) o Slight decrease in the number of agritourism farms (from 622 to 602 farms) o Significant increase in agritourism-related income (from $1.9 to $12.7 M) USDA: NASS (2013)

4 The Meaning of Agritourism 1. Setting 2. Contact 3. Experience 4. Activity Working farm Non-working farm (e.g., abandoned mill) Direct (e.g., learning to grow mushrooms) Indirect (e.g., eating farm products) Passive (e.g., wedding) Authentic (e.g., U-pick) Staged (e.g., winery tours) Recreation (e.g., rides) Education (e.g., workshops) Visiting a working farm or other agricultural setting for recreation or education purposes. Gil Arroyo, Barbieri & Rich (2013); Phillip et al. (2010). Missouri & North Carolina, 2011 (n=1,300)

5 A marketplace for rural tourism micro-entrepreneurs Equitable Economic Development Local Foods Movement Military Readiness

6 Equitable Economic Development from Tourism o The Biltmore received 1.2 million visitors in 2013 o P1T Madison network draws visitors from Asheville on day trips o Improved destination competitiveness, increased length of stay

Support of Local Foods Movement o o o Angelina s

farms and directs patrons to the P1T farms Local small

is more successful; visitors learn and enjoy

7 Support of Local Foods Movement o o o Angelina s Kitchen restaurant sources food products from local farms and directs patrons to the P1T farms Local small organic farms are more financially viable; restaurant is more successful; visitors learn and enjoy experience County Tourism office and Coop Extension office collaborate

8 Military Readiness o o o Marines and Army need rural land to remain mission-compatible Agritourism creates new sources of revenue for working lands Soft approach wins hearts and minds of neighboring communities

9 The Big Questions of Agritourism Agritourism is one form of on-farm enterprise developed to increase farm revenues or values Does agritourism really work ($)? Who benefits? How sustainable is agritourism? Sanders Ridge Farm (Boonville, NC)

The wellbeing of the farm household drives farmer s decisions. 3.

10 Agritourism Assessment: A System s Approach 1. Farmers have a diverse set of economic and non economic goals. 2. The wellbeing of the farm household drives farmer s decisions. 3. Agritourism promotes rural development. 4. Agritourism as a sustainable strategy.

11 Agritourism Assessment: The Agripreneur Farmers Goals: Texas, 2005 (n=216 ) (Barbieri, 2009; McGehee et al., 2007; Nickerson et al., 2001; Ollenburg & Buckley, 2007)

12 Agritourism Assessment: The Agripreneur 5-pt Likert Scale: (1) = Not important; (3) = Somewhat Important; (5) = Extremely Important. Missouri, 2008 (n=164) (Tew & Barbieri, 2012)

13 Agritourism Assessment: The Agripreneur Accomplishment by Goal Dimension (MD1) Farm Profitability (MD2) Market Driven (MD3) Family Connections (MD4) Personal Pursuits pt Likert Scale: (1) = Not important; (3) = Somewhat Important; (5) = Extremely Important. Missouri, 2008 (n=164) (Tew & Barbieri, 2012)

Agritourism Assessment: The Farm Household 1. Effect on Profits Figure 18. Change in Profits after Agritourism Development 40.0% 30.0% 36% 28% 35% Figure 19.

14 Agritourism Assessment: The Farm Household 1. Effect on Profits Figure 18. Change in Profits after Agritourism Development 40.0% 30.0% 36% 28% 35% Figure 19. Amount of Profit Increase after Agritourism Development 20.0% 10.0% 0.0% 0% 1% 23% 28% 28% 21% 1% to 10% 11% to 30% 31% to 99% 100% or more Mean=56% (n = 90) (n = 162) Missouri, 2008 (n=164) (Tew & Barbieri, 2012)

15 Agritourism Assessment: The Farm Household 2. Impact on Family Employment Agritourism No Agritourism Total Full-Time Year Round Full-Time Seasonal Post-Diversif. (Gain) U.S.A., 2005 (n=873; p<.05) (Barbieri, 2013)

16 Agritourism Assessment: The Farm Household 3. Impact on Off-farm Employment Agritourism No Agritourism Principal Operator Spouse Adults Kids (living on farm) U.S.A., 2005 (n=873; p<.05) (Barbieri, 2013)

17 Agritourism Assessment: Society 1. Economic: Perceived Benefits Scale: 1 = Very unimportant ; 5 = Very important. North Carolina, 2011 (n=681; p<.05)

18 Agritourism Assessment: Society 1. Economic: On-farm Employment Post- Diversifcation (Gain) Post- Diversification (Gain) 24 2 Agritourism No Agritourism Total Non Family Total Non-Family (Barbieri, 2013) U.S., 2005 (n=873; p<.05) Sanders Ridge Vineyard (Boonville, NC)

19 Agritourism Assessment: Society 2. Socio-Cultural: Perceived Benefits Scale: 1 = Very unimportant ; 5 = Very important. North Carolina, 2011 (n=681; p<.05)

20 Agritourism Assessment: Society 2. Socio-Cultural: Family Farm Heritage Agritourism No Agritourism Farm Sucession Restored Heritage Norma DeCamp Burns Bennett (NC) U.S.A., 2005 (n=873; p<.05) (Barbieri, 2013)

21 Agritourism Assessment: Society 3. Environmental: Perceived Benefits Scale: 1 = Very unimportant ; 5 = Very important. North Carolina, 2011 (n=681; p<.05)

22 Agritourism Assessment: Society 3. Environmental: Farming Practices o Wildlife habitat improvement: 50% o Integrated Pest Management: 48% o Water conservation: 65% (Barbieri, 2013) U.S.A., 2005 (n=873) Cohen Farm (Pittsboro, NC)

Wrapping-Up Agritourism is visiting a working farm

educational purposes Rejected working facilities for

agritourism works in rural North Carolina

23 Wrapping-Up Agritourism is visiting a working farm or other agricultural setting for recreational or educational purposes Rejected working facilities for landscaping only People-First Tourism: How agritourism works in rural North Carolina Agritourism System s Assessment o Three dimensions o Three levels of analysis

24 Wrapping-Up Attitudes or behaviors? Farmer level Satisfies a mix of economic & non-economic goals Farm Household level Indirect gains? o Increases farm profits o Creates jobs and reduces off-farm employment o Preserves farming life-style Society level Impacts on visitors? o Creates jobs o Preserves farm heritage o Fosters environmental friendly farming practices

25 Thank You! Carla Barbieri, Ph.D. Agritourism & Societal Wellbeing Duarte Morais, Ph.D. People-First Tourism

Farm Like a Women in Agritourism: Joining Efforts to Succeed!

Farm Like a Women in Agritourism: Joining Efforts to Succeed! Photo credit: Carolina Farm Stewardship Alliance (CFSA) Ann Savage *, Carla Barbieri *, Susan Jakes^, Duarte Morais* * Department of Parks,