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Upcoming Events:
- 05/21 - Small Business Workshop
- 05/23 - Small Business Workshop
- 05/28 - Small Business Workshop
- 05/29 - St. Clair County Farmers Market Grand Opening
- 05/30 - Small Business Workshop
- 06/13 - Estate Planning for Farmers and Landowners
- 06/18 - You Can't Take it With You
- 06/20 - 2nd Annual 2013 Central AL Veterans, Service Members & Families Resource Fair
- 06/20 - You Can't Take it With You!
- 06/20 - Electronic Recycling Drop-Off
Community Engagement, Tourism, & Assistance News
Hatchet Creek Festival is May 18-19
The first Hatchet Creek Festival is planned for May 18 and 19. The festival will be a two-day float trip... more
April 3rd is National Walking Day
With so much talk about being Physical Active these days the American Heart Association has designated April 3rd as National... more
Water Wheels Outdoor Water Conservation Lab Introduced at GREEN LIVING EXPO 2012
Written by Dr. Cathy Sabota/posted and narrated by Leslie Grill
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... more
Alabama Ethnic Food Safety Network Developing Sustainable Meat Rabbit Production in Haiti
Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, with an average annual per capita income of $650;... more
Chilton Food Innovation Center Formally Launches May 1
The Chilton Food Innovation Center, a fully equipped industrial kitchen that will provide local farmers and other aspiring entrepreneurs with... more
Extension Rural Tourism Conference Benefits Communities in Numerous Ways
Realizing that tourism is a vital part of a community's economic development, the Alabama-Mississippi Rural Tourism Conference is a collaborative... more
Developing an Agri-Tourism
Attraction in Alabama
Agriculture and tourism are two of Alabama’s largest industries. Agriculture has been the traditional backbone of the state’s economy and had over a $7 billion impact last year. Tourism is a relatively new industry, yet its economic impact was also $7 billion. Imagine the possibilities if the two were to combine efforts. Leaders in both industries are beginning to do just that in selected areas. The result is agri-tourism.
This publication is designed to assist farmers and entrepreneurs in deciding if agri-tourism could enhance their incomes and to provide the initial basic information needed for an individual to develop an agri-tourism attraction.
Agri-tourism has had a significant history, both in Europe and in selected segments of the United States, such as the West and upper Midwest. Europe has long had the concept of the farm stay, where travelers stay on a working farm for a holiday or vacation. Minnesota was in the forefront of the agritourism movement in the early ‘70s, but interest soon waned. By the late ‘90s, interest had again picked up, primarily because of farmers wanting to produce additional income to be able to stay in agriculture. more...
