Compiled and edited by members of the NET Communications and Executive Committees: Natalie Chin, Kristen Devlin, Mercedes Fraser, Molly McManus, Xinyi Qian, Ann Savage, Gwynn Stewart, and April Turner.
Table of Contents
- Letter from NET Chair, Xinyi Qian
- Next NET Webinar (9/17): Agritourism Trail Systems of California, New York, and Oregon
- Regional Spotlight on the North Central Region
- Tourism Tidbits from the CD Society Conference
- New Case Studies About On-Farm Experiences from the University of Minnesota Tourism Center
- Helping Tourists Travel Responsibly: Travel with Care at Indiana Dunes
- Updates from the NET Design Team and Partners
- 2025 NETtra Tourism Conference Update
- Updates from Agritourism and Outdoor Recreation Working Groups
Letter from NET Chair, Xinyi Qian
Dear National Extension Tourism NETwork,
It is with great appreciation and gratitude that I am writing this note – my last note as the 2023-2025 NET Chair. It has been a privilege to serve in this role, and I want to give a shout-out to my fellow Executive Committee members:
- Ann Savage (North Carolina State University Extension): Vice Chair
- April Turner (South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium): Secretary
- Andy Northrop (Michigan State University Extension): Past Chair
I am happy to announce that during the 2025 NETTra conference taking place in October, we will pass the baton to a stellar incoming Executive Committee, when I will become the Past Chair:
- Ann Savage, North Carolina State University Extension: Chair
- Gwynn Stewart, Ohio State University Extension: Vice Chair
- Mercedes Fraser, University of Kentucky Extension: Secretary
My big thank-you also goes to the communications and webinar committees. Working together, the committees regularly engage NET members, our audiences and stakeholders with quarterly newsletters, LinkedIn posts, and quarterly webinars. Additionally, the outdoor recreation and agritourism working groups have become established, and I admire the effort that folks have made to start the working groups and get them off the ground. The Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development, especially Kristen Devlin, deserves a special thank-you for their ongoing support of NET.
I look forward to our joint conference with the Northeast chapter of Travel and Tourism Research Association (TTRA) in New Hampshire in early October. Under Ann’s leadership, we will continue our strategic plan update work at the in-person Design Team meeting on Oct 7. Nothing beats the invigorating energy that comes with connecting face-to-face at the conference! My special thank-you to the conference planning committee (way to go, Jada and Charlie!) and the awards committee.
As always, feel free to reach out to us via email and stay connected with us on LinkedIn. Please take care!
Sincerely,
Xinyi Qian, Ph.D.
Director, University of Minnesota Tourism Center
Chair, NET
NET Webinar Updates
The next NET webinar will take place on September 17, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. ET, and will feature “Agritourism Trail Systems of California, New York, and Oregon.” Join this webinar to hear about the different agritourism trail systems in CA, NY, and OR. We will look at the various types of trails in each state including wine, beverage, cuisine, farm, apple, and more. The speakers will provide information on the establishment process, involvement with state organizations, financial support, and incentive programs. Register here.
Speakers include:
- Scott Bricker (Destination Services Director, Travel Oregon)
- Rachael Callahan (Statewide Agritourism Coordinator, University of California Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program)
- Lindsey Pashow (Agritourism Statewide Specialist/Agriculture Business Development and Marketing Specialist, Cornell Cooperative Extension Harvest NY)
Spotlight on the North Central Region
In each newsletter, we’ll feature NET-affiliated people and programs from a particular region. This time, we’re shining a light on the North Central Region.
Tourism Tidbits from the Community Development Society Conference (hosted in the New York Finger Lakes Region)
Submitted by Gwynn Stewart, MS, Assistant Professor of Community Development – Ohio State University Extension
I recently attended the Community Development Society (CDS) conference in the beautiful New York Finger Lakes (also known as FLX) region that explored the theme of “Innovative Pathways to Thriving Communities: Technology, People, and Place-based Collaboration.” The event was hosted at the Hobart and William Smith colleges in Geneva, New York – a lovely campus. There were attendees from all around the world and many from higher education and Extension!
From a tourism perspective, there were a variety of opportunities for learning and for excursions as well. Read on for my takeaways.
New Case Studies About On-Farm Experiences from the University of Minnesota Tourism Center
Submitted by Xinyi Qian, Director, University of Minnesota Tourism Center and NET Chair
The University of Minnesota Tourism Center is excited to share with you a series of case studies about on-farm experiences. The case studies were created in response to Minnesota farmers’ and producers’ interest in creating on-farm experiences for their customers. We want to express our deepest gratitude for the four farmers whom we interviewed in fall 2024 — the case studies would not have been possible without their generous sharing of time and insights. Click here to access the landing page, which includes direct links to the three case studies.
Helping Tourists Travel Responsibly: Travel with Care at Indiana Dunes
Submitted by Ailin Fei, Purdue University Graduate Student
Tourism brings incredible benefits to communities, but without visitor education, it can also bring strain. That’s why Indiana Dunes Tourism partnered with Purdue University to pilot Travel with Care, a research-informed initiative designed to help destinations educate travelers about responsible and respectful behavior.
Travel with Care is an initiative and free industry education resource designed to empower tourism professionals to educate travelers on sustainable tourism practices. This initiative is a collaboration between the Sustainable Tourism and Responsible Travel Lab (STaRTlab) in the White Lodging-J.W. Marriott Jr. School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Purdue University and Miles Partnership.
This collaboration enhanced the Indiana Dunes Tourism’s “Love and Protect” campaign, which puts Travel with Care principles into action. The campaign focuses on encouraging positive visitor behaviors like packing out trash, parking responsibly, staying on trails, and supporting local businesses, through thoughtful messaging across their website, social media, and on-site signage. Rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach, the messaging was co-created to reflect the values, concerns, and identity of the Indiana Dunes community. Learn more about the collaboration here.
Update from the NET Design Team and Partners
NETtra 2025 Conference: Register by September 19th!
Join us in Meredith, New Hampshire, October 7-10, 2025, for the 2025 NETtra Conference — a first-time collaboration between the Northeast Chapter of the Travel and Tourism Research Association (NETTRA) and the National Extension Tourism (NET) Network, hosted by the University of New Hampshire Extension. We will be at the beautiful Mill Falls at the Lake resort, on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee. Registration information can be found here, and some updates from the conference committee follow:
- New Opportunity: Poster Pop-Up!
If you are interested in presenting your tourism-based research or project at the conference but missed the earlier call for abstracts, please consider sharing your work in our special “Poster Pop-Up” session! Space is limited. More info here. - Wednesday Night Awards Dinner Cruise
Included with your full conference registration is a cruise on the historic M/S Mount Washington — a classic Lakes Region experience! - Thursday Afternoon Mobile Workshops
Conference registration includes a field trip on Thursday afternoon focused on advancing knowledge on different themes of tourism planning, development, and promotion. Destinations include regional businesses and attractions such as Highland Mountain Bike Park, Hermit Woods Winery, Remick Country Doctor and Farm Museum, Squam Lakes Association, Mill City Park (whitewater kayaking park), and more. Read the complete descriptions at the bottom of this webpage. - Wondering how to get to Meredith?
Travel information is available here. We are also offering a complimentary airport shuttle from the Manchester (MHT) airport. Spaces are limited, so sign up soon!
Updates from the Agritourism and Outdoor Recreation Working Groups
Agritourism Working Group
The NET Agritourism Working Group continues to meet regularly online. At our most recent meeting on June 10, 2025, we discussed programming to support agritourism in several different states. The recording from that meeting (and lots more information) is on the Working Group homepage: National Extension Agritourism Working Group home page. We are planning a roundtable and other gatherings at the NETtra Conference in New Hampshire in October. We hope to see you there!
Outdoor Recreation Working Group
The steering committee of the NET Outdoor Rec Working Group is currently focusing on showcasing the national efforts of Extension professionals working in the outdoor recreation space through the development and sharing of case studies. They will be presenting these case studies at the NETtra Conference in New Hampshire in October and inviting others to create their own. Some members of the steering committee will also be presenting a session titled, “Extension’s Role in the Outdoor Recreation Economy: A Collaborative Exploration of Opportunities for National Engagement.” Visit the National Extension Outdoor Recreation home page for more about this group.
Thanks for reading! The next NET newsletter will be published in November. View older newsletters here.