Agritourism Grows Opportunity Across the Northeast

Article by Stacey Stearns, UConn Extension

From farm stays and corn mazes to wineries, maple operations and educational tours, agritourism has become a powerful economic driver for communities across the Northeast. By blending agriculture, tourism and education, farms are diversifying income, supporting local jobs and strengthening ties between producers and the public.

Photos courtesy of Liberty Hill Farm (Vermont)

Land-grant universities and Cooperative Extension programs are central to this growth. Through research-based education, business planning assistance and regional collaboration, Extension helps farms translate visitor interest into long-term economic and community benefits.

Recent Extension impact examples highlight how agritourism programming helps farms navigate zoning, liability and visitor management while building confidence to expand on-farm experiences responsibly. Other efforts focus on pricing, marketing, and partnerships with local tourism organizations, ensuring that visitor spending supports nearby businesses and rural main streets.

Across the region, these approaches are reinforced through coordinated efforts at multiple institutions.

Photo courtesy of Greenfield Highland Beef (Vermont)

Vermont is home to a working lands economy, and UVM Extension supports agritourism, with an emphasis on farm viability, local food systems and community connection. Extension educators help farms explore visitor-based enterprises that complement existing operations while contributing to rural economic vitality and place-based tourism.

West Virginia University supports agritourism as part of a broader strategy to strengthen farm viability and rural economies. Extension educators provide training that helps farms diversify revenue, attract visitors, and connect agricultural enterprises to broader community development efforts.

In New York, Cornell Cooperative Extension supports agritourism by helping farms assess readiness, manage regulatory requirements, and strengthen marketing and customer experience. These efforts help farms diversify income while remaining viable in high-population areas, reinforcing resilient food systems and working landscapes across the state and the Northeast.

Photo courtesy of Sandiwood Farm (Vermont)

Penn State Extension also integrates agritourism into broader farm business and rural entrepreneurship programming. By providing guidance on risk management, insurance, marketing, and financial planning, Extension helps farms make informed decisions that support profitability, local employment and sustained economic activity in rural communities.

UConn Extension works with farms operating in close proximity to residential and urban areas, emphasizing communication, customer management and community partnerships. Agritourism education helps Connecticut farms remain competitive while strengthening relationships with municipalities, tourism organizations, and local residents.

Photo courtesy of Howling Wolf Farm (Randolph, Vermont)

Regional and National Curriculum Collaboration

West Virginia University is leading a national USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program grant that includes Extension professionals from Cornell, Penn State and UConn as partners, along with those from other regions. Regional collaboration is leading to lasting change as the project emphasizes shared learning and coordinated training, recognizing agritourism as one pathway that can help beginning farmers build income, community connections, and long-term resilience.

Together, these efforts reflect a regional commitment to collaboration and innovation. Agritourism supports diversified farm income and fosters public engagement with agriculture, preserves working lands and strengthens local economies in a densely populated region.

As the Northeast continues to balance economic opportunity, environmental stewardship and community well-being, agritourism offers a practical, people-centered approach to development. With land-grant universities working together across state lines, agritourism is helping farms thrive while supporting vibrant, resilient communities throughout the region.