FLORENCE, S.C. – The two biggest industries in South Carolina are undoubtedly agricultural and tourism and during the annual AgriBiz Farm Expo at the Florence Civic Center this week a portion of the event was set aside for a growing industry that merges the two.
In a mini-conference, more than 100 attendees involved in farming heard from several speakers on agritourism – one the fastest growing business sectors of South Carolina agricultural – and participated in a roundtable discussion moderated by Martha Glass of the North Carolina Agritourism Networking Association.
Centered on how farmers can manage agritourism profitably, the discussion included a panel of farmers already involved with tourism including Jeff Manley of The Rock Ranch in Georgia, Helen Legare-Floyd, of Legare Farm, Johns Island, S.C., Catherine Davis of Denver Down Farm in Sandy Springs, S.C., and Carrie Dalton of Clinton Sease Farm, Lexington, S.C.
Other topics covered in the conference also included an introduction from Buddy Jennings, Farm Bureau Federation, on Legislation for Agritourism, during which farmers touched on current issues such as obtaining affordable farm insurance and additional taxes being imposed on farm buildings in some counties.
Jennings, noted the biggest key for farmers for enforcing or changing current legislation is to get involved; to join organizations such as the Farm Bureau and the newly-formed SC Agritourism Association.
SC Agritourism Association held its first meeting Dec. 11, 2014, and hosted the mini-conference as part of its inaugural business meeting. Developed over more than a year, the organization has set out clear goals for its one-dozen charter members: to educate, encourage, facilitate, and advocate agritourism in the state. By lunch time on the first day of the Expo, the association had gained at least two new members.
So what is agritourism?
The association defines agritourism as “agriculture-based activities that bring people to farms, ranches, or other agricultural settings.”
Martin Eubanks, assistant commissioner of agriculture, said agritourism encompasses everything from u-pick farms, to weddings and other events held on farms, and much more.
“Agritourism and events on farms is a very broad a diverse segment of agriculture. It’s bringing people to the farm and giving the farm experience – whether it’s a bed-and-breakfast where somebody goes out and helps with the cows. It’s everything,” said Eubanks. “Today’s consumers, … are wanting their children and grandchildren to have that experience.”
Eubanks said the last census taken in 2012, identified 581 agritourism businesses with South Carolina.
“We see a tremendous opportunity to grow that with the diversity of the state. What it shows is that the opportunity is there and that we haven’t reached its full potential,” said Eubanks. “When you reach that potential, agritourism brings people to the farm, it brings further dollars to our state that will roll over in our state’s economy; its all positive for the State of South Carolina.”
Eubanks said that introducing tourism into a farm also brings diversity for the farmer’s income stream.
“At the same time it’s a great educational tool. That’s a huge part of it; to give young people an opportunity to see where their food comes from,” said Eubanks. “To give people an on-farm experience may lead to a desire down the road to be involved in agribusiness.”
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