Webinar Recording: Agritourism — Understanding Benefits, Challenges and Needs throughout the USA

This webinar took place on October 6, 2026.

• Watch the webinar recording here (YouTube).
• Download the webinar slides here (PDF)

Resources and links shared during this webinar include:

• Global Agritourism Network
• National Extension Tourism Network
• UVM Extension’s National Agritourism Study
• USDA’s Local Food Research and Development
• The National Agricultural Law Center’s Research by Topic
• The National Agricultural Law Center’s States’ Agritourism Statutes
• Farmstay

Description

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 was moderated by Lisa Chase of University of Vermont Extension. Panelists included 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 shared 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 talked about ways that farmers, ranchers, tourism professionals, and policymakers can use this information to strengthen agritourism locally, regionally, nationally, and even internationally.