Compiled and edited by members of the NET Communications and Executive Committees: Natalie Chin, Kristen Devlin, Mercedes Fraser, Molly McManus, Ann Savage, and April Turner.
Table of Contents
- Letter from NET Chair, Ann Savage
- NET Webinar: “Agritourism: Understanding Benefits, Challenges and Needs throughout the USA” on October 6
- Updates from the NET Design Team and Partners
- NET 2027 Conference Update
- University of Minnesota Tourism Center is hiring a full-time Statewide Specialist of Community Tourism Development
- NETTRA 2026: Showcasing the Northeast Through Special Events
- UNH Extension launches successful first Outdoor Economy Academy cohort
- Call for volunteers – join the NET Communications Committee!
- Regional Spotlight on the North Central Region
- University of Illinois Extension’s “Home First” Program: Putting Resident Benefit at the Center of Tourism Development
- University of Minnesota Extension’s Department of Community Development received an NCRCRD Small Grant to create a rural outdoor recreation technical assistance program
- University of Minnesota Tourism Center is excited to launch the Community Impact Snapshot
- Updates from Agritourism and Outdoor Recreation Working Groups
- Agritourism Working Group Update
- Outdoor Recreation Working Group Update
Letter from NET Chair, Ann Savage
Dear National Extension Tourism NETwork,
It’s been a year in motion for NET, as I’m sure it has been for many of you. There has been a lot of movement as we welcomed Natalie Chin to our Executive Committee as our new Vice Chair, and we continue to fill our Design Team spots, most recently welcoming Carrie Malone as our North Central Sea Grant representative. There is also continued movement in our committees and working groups. As we set out to finish the year, I’m sure this motion will continue to bring both the expected and unexpected, but we know NET and the work within it will be a steady presence throughout.
Sincerely,
Ann Savage,
North Carolina State University Extension,
Chair, NET
Webinar: Agritourism — Understanding Benefits, Challenges and Needs throughout the USA
Join NET for a webinar on October 6th, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. ET, which will explore the questions, “What are the primary concerns and challenges for agritourism operators in the USA — and how are these concerns being addressed?” This webinar summarizes key findings from interviews with farmers and a nationwide survey of agritourism operators conducted in 2025.
Hosted by the Global Agritourism Network and the National Extension Tourism Network, this webinar will be moderated by Lisa Chase of University of Vermont Extension. Panelists include Claire Whitehouse from the University of Vermont Center for Rural Studies who led the survey research; Rusty Rumley from the National Agricultural Law Center who will share the latest information regarding liability and regulations impacting agritourism; Americo Vega-Labiosa and Annelise Straw from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service discussing programs that support agritourism; and Scottie Jones from Leaping Lamb Farm in Oregon who will talk about ways that farmers, ranchers, tourism professionals, and policymakers can use this information to strengthen agritourism locally, regionally, nationally, and even internationally. Register for the webinar here.
Updates from the NET Design Team and Partners
University of Minnesota Tourism Center is hiring a full-time Statewide Specialist of Community Tourism Development
The University of Minnesota Tourism Center is hiring a statewide specialist of community tourism development. The position will lead the Tourism Center’s portfolio of work in community tourism development and contribute to the strategic priorities of the Center and Extension’s Department of Community Development. To serve communities’ needs for tourism development, the position will collaborate widely with University colleagues and industry partners. Click here for the job posting. Contact Dr. Xinyi Qian (qianx@umn.edu), Tourism Center Director, with any questions. The application deadline is Wed, Sep 16th.
NET 2027 Conference Update
If you haven’t already, be sure to mark your calendars for October 18-21, 2027! The conference will take place in Wyoming, aka the Cowboy State! More information will be shared as planning continues.
NETTRA 2026: Showcasing the Northeast Through Special Events
October 8th, 2026, 8:30 am – 12 pm (virtual)
The Northeast Chapter of the Travel & Tourism Research Association (NETTRA) aims to engage tourism academics, practitioners, and vendors located in or with interests in the Northeast region of the United States. Each year, NETTRA hosts a conference to share key tourism insights with a focus on the Northeast US. This conference is an excellent opportunity for students, professionals, and academics to come together and learn from each other. Inspired by the United States’ hosting of the FIFA World Cup this year and the Olympics in 2028, the conference will focus on the intersection between tourism and events. Visit the NETTRA website for details.
UNH Extension launches successful first Outdoor Economy Academy cohort
Congratulations to the participants of the first Outdoor Economy Academy cohort! Over the course of almost a month, 23 participants working or interested in planning and economic development in New Hampshire related to the outdoors participated in almost 20 hours of place-based training and professional development as we visited three communities across the State. The participants were enthusiastic and inspiring. Many are already making plans to bring their knowledge to action in their communities. This Academy was conducted through a partnership between UNH Extension and NH Business and Economic Affair’s Outdoor Recreation Industry Development office and was made possible through the collaboration of dozens of local and state partners who graciously shared their time and expertise. For more information check out the UNH resource page or reach out to Dr. Shannon Rogers, shannon.rogers@unh.edu.
Call for volunteers – join the NET communications committee!
Are you interested in becoming more involved in NET? Joining a committee is a great way to get to know other members of the NETwork and to contribute to the organization. Currently, NET is seeking volunteers to join the Communications Committee. The communications committee meets quarterly over Zoom and collaborates over email to plan the quarterly NET newsletter and social media posts, maintain the WordPress website content, and assist with meeting accessibility standards. If interested, please contact committee co-chair Mercedes Fraser (mercedes.maness@uky.edu) or Kristen Devlin (krd111@psu.edu)
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.
University of Illinois Extension’s “Home First” Program: Putting Resident Benefit at the Center of Tourism Development
Submitted by Katie Dudley, Community and Economic Development Extension Specialist, University of Illinois Extension
Tourism planning often begins with an outward-facing question: How can we attract more visitors?
Home First begins somewhere else: What should tourism do for the people who already live here?
Home First is a resident-first approach to tourism and outdoor recreation development created through University of Illinois Extension. It is designed for rural and small-town communities where tourism, visitor activity, and outdoor recreation may already affect daily life, even when the community has never formally considered itself a tourism destination.
Rather than beginning with branding, promotion, or attraction development, Home First begins with local observation, community conditions, shared purpose, and realistic next steps. It helps residents and local leaders understand tourism as part of a larger community system rather than as a stand-alone industry. Learn more about the Home First program here.
University of Minnesota Extension’s Department of Community Development received a NCRCRD Small Grant to create a rural outdoor recreation technical assistance program
Submitted by Xinyi Qian, University of Minnesota Tourism Center
Dr. Ami Choi (PI) of the UMN Tourism Center, along with John Bennett, Community Economics Educator and Craig Campbell, Leadership and Civic Engagement Educator, will be leading a project to develop a technical assistance program aimed at creating resilient rural communities through outdoor recreation economy. The program would be modeled after the EPA and Colorado programs, while being adapted for Minnesota and states in the North Central region. The 12-month project has received a Small Grant from the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development (NCRCRD) through a competitive process and will begin in August 2026.
University of Minnesota Tourism Center is excited to launch the Community Impact Snapshot
Submitted by Xinyi Qian, University of Minnesota Tourism Center
The University of Minnesota Tourism Center, in collaboration with the University of Minnesota Duluth’s Bureau of Business and Economic Research (BBER) and Extension’s Department of Community Development, is launching a new product called the community impact snapshot. This report is designed for community leaders who are interested in estimating the tourism-related economic impact of festivals and events hosted in their communities. Please feel free to reach out to the Tourism Center with inquiries or questions. More information about the methodology used to create a community impact snapshot is available at z.umn.edu/impactsnapshot.
Updates from the Agritourism and Outdoor Recreation Working Groups
Agritourism Working Group Update
The Agritourism Working Group hosted its 3rd quarterly meeting of the year on July 21st. The meeting featured a presentation by representatives from the American Indigenous Tourism Association. Gail E. Chehak, Community and Partner Relations Director, and Hannah Peterson, Program Development Director, shared their organization’s experiences, challenges, and opportunities in promoting and developing agritourism with native tribes. The presentation was followed by discussion of opportunities for working group members in Extension to partner with the American Indigenous Tourism Association. During the meeting, working group members who attended the Global Agritourism Conference in June 2026 shared feedback and takeaways from the event with the group. The next Agritourism Working Group meeting will be held Tuesday, October 20th at 2pm EST.
Outdoor Recreation Working Group (NEORWG) Update
The Outdoor Recreation Workgroup has a national steering committee that meets on the first Wednesday of October, December, February, April, June and August. The national meetings focus on reports from each region, a member or partner spotlight, and the goals established by the group. Regional subgroups meet to coordinate work on regionally relevant objectives, and meet the first Wednesday of each month in September, November, January, March, May, and July. For questions or to get involved in either the national or regional working groups, please contact Jake Powell (jake.powel@usu.edu).
Thanks for reading! The next NET newsletter will be published in November. View older newsletters here.
The National Extension Tourism Network (NET) is an all-volunteer organization. NET Executive Officers and Regional Representatives are employed in various capacities by Land Grant and Sea Grant institutions throughout the U.S. In addition, NET receives administrative support from the Regional Rural Development Centers, which are funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the submitting author(s) and should not be construed as an endorsement by NET or employers of NET officers/representatives, or to represent any official USDA or U.S. Government determination or policy or that of other funders.