| 8:15 am |
Registration
|
| 8:45 am |
Welcome and Introductions
Marsha Laux, Iowa State University Extension [Session Handout]
Pat Boddy, Iowa Department of Natural Resources |
| 9:30 am |
Concurrent Sessions:
Charting the Path of Your Agritourism Business - the Components of an Effective Business Plan
Marsha Laux, Iowa State University Extension [Session Handout]
Learn how to use a written business plan to help guide the path of your business decision-making. What resources are available to assist you in developing a written plan?
Successful Marketing Strategies . . .What Works, What Doesn't
Steve Richardson, Tassel Ridge Winery
Steve & Donna Shoop, J&S Trophy Hunts
What type of marketing works to attract new visitors? These two businesses will discuss email, web sites, direct mail, advertising, special events, and what works and what doesn't.
|
| 10:30 am |
Concurrent Sessions
Marketing Plans for Your Agritourism Enterprise
Mark True, McLelland Marketing
This session will overview the essential parts of a marketing plan and what key components to include in your overall promotional efforts.
Attracting Visitors and Bus Groups
Part 1: Using Themed Experiences to Create a Destination
Diane Van Wyngarden, Iowa State University Extension Tourism Specialist
Jill & Jeff Burkhart, Picket Fence Creamery
How can you get visitors and bus groups to beat a path to your door? What secret ingredients are bus group leaders seeking? Learn strategies and see examples of how small Iowa businesses offer authentic and themed experiences to successfully attract regional and national audiences.
|
| 11:30 am |
Lunch & Keynote Address
John Pike, University of Illinois [Session Handout]
|
| 1:00 pm |
Concurrent Sessions
Safety Consideration for Agritourism Operations
John Pike, University of Illinois [Session Handout]
Agritourism can be a very a rewarding business but like all businesses there is risk involved. In addition to financial risk, liability concerns should be addressed early in the planning process and revisited on a regular basis once the business is in operation. Hosting customers on the farm can add tremendous value to a variety of ordinary products and activities, however, many of these visitors are not familiar with many potential safety hazards commonly found on farms or in rural areas. Taking time to assess potential hazards and develop an emergency plan is important for agritourism operations of all sizes to reduce risks involved with customer safety and liability.
Attracting Visitors and Bus Groups
Part 2: Are you Ready for Bus Groups? How to Prepare and What to Do When Groups Arrive
Sharon Dixon, Inbound Iowa & Joe Knobbe, Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area [Session Handout]
Now that you’ve got their attention – are you prepared for their arrival? Session includes a checklist to make sure your site is ready for groups. What are the expectations from bus groups, participants and group leaders, What considerations do you need to make in contrast to other visitors to your site?
|
| 2:00 pm |
Concurrent Sessions
Benefits to Iowa Tourism Regional Membership
Julie Fisher, Inn of the Six-Toed Cat
This session will highlight the benefits of membership in one of Iowa's three regional tourism regions.
Farm Signage – Iowa DOT
Vicki Elscott, Iowa DOT [Session Handout]
Learn more about the Tourist Oriented Directional Signs (TODS) program and get answers to other road signage questions.
|
| 3:00 pm |
Concurrent Sessions
County Regulations & Legal Issues Affecting Agritourism
Matt Russell, Drake Agricultural Law Center [Session Handout]
Understanding the questions is as important as getting the answers. This session will explore emerging issues related to Iowa’s “new” agriculture—local food, agri-tourism, field days, on farm sales, etc. The workshop discussion will be framed around “freedom to farm”.
20 Ideas to Increase On-farm Sales
John Pike, University of Illinois [Session Handout]
Effective marketing strategies are key to the profitability of any business. Given the many activities necessary to develop and operate a successful agritourism attraction and the fact that many farmers lack experience in direct marketing and dealing with the public in general, marketing sometimes takes a backseat to production farm work or general maintenance that tends to be closer to their natural comfort zone. This session will highlight 25+ ideas to improve marketing success for agritourism operations of any size. |
| 4:00 pm |
Networking Ice Cream Social with Pickett Fence Ice Cream
Hosted by the Iowa Agritourism Working Group and Pickett Fence Creamery |