Agritourism, Is it a Good Fit for Your Operation?

I'm sure there is a fit for ornamental operations to successfully engage in Agritourism, especially operating in such a highly sought out area between Tampa and Orlando.  We have Mickey on one side and cruiselines on the other.  The question is what can you do to include activities or become part of a group that promotes what we do to the public as part of tourism.  This might be a secondary stream of income without changing a whole lot to your operation.  Polk county is having a meeting that you might want to attend.  Please see the information below. 

Agritourism: Status Check & Charting a Course for the Future

Noticed a surge of interest in visiting farms for fun? Recreational farm visits, or agritourism, are on the rise around the state and the country, but how well is Polk County positioned to benefit from this trend?  The UF/IFAS Extension Polk County Small Farms program and Polk County Tourism & Sports Marketing (PCTSM) are joining forces to host a meeting to discuss the current status of agritourism in Central Florida and chart a course for future efforts.  Presentations and panel discussions, including speakers from local agritourism operations and the President of the Florida Agritourism Association, will bring attendees up to speed on where we are at and where we could go in developing agritourism in our area.  Topics include: “How does Central Florida Agritourism Stack up Against State and National Trends?”; “The Florida Agritourism Association: What does it do, why is it needed, and what is going on around the state?”; “Current Central Florida Agritourism Operations: What are we doing now and where would we like to be in the future?”; and “How should we move forward in developing Agritourism in Central Florida?”.  The meeting will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, November 12 at Lake Myrtle Sports Park, 2701 Lake Myrtle Park Road, Auburndale, FL. Lunch will be provided by PCTSM. Agricultural enterprises and others interested in developing agritourism are encouraged to come out and be a part of the discussion!

Details
When: Wednesday, November 12: 9:30 AM - 2 PM.
Where: Lake Myrtle Sports Park, 2701 Lake Myrtle Park Road, Auburndale, FL
Register: See the detailed agenda and free registration on the calendar page of http://polksmallfarms.com 
Contact: Mary Beth Henry at 863-519-1049 or mbhenry@ufl.edu