How do YOU talk to your farm or ranch guests? Have you ever thought of the impact a simple conversation with a customer can have on your business and customer loyalty? Whether you operate a fruit stand or offer hayrides, you can improve your product through well-planned conversations, storytelling and interpretative programs. Your goal? To create better word of mouth marketing through a quality guest experience that provides more than the sizzle of entertainment—it provides the steak of learning!

In this workshop, you’ll learn how to present your subject in a manner meaningful and inspiring to your customers, and that leads to improved sales. You’ll leave armed with knowledge and materials to create and organize personal guest interaction and programs that you can use to improve your guests’ experiences and to quickly train employees so you can provide a consistent message and quality for guests.

Program Elements

1. Background of Interpretation         Definitions, Uses, History, NAI, Tilman’s Principles

2. Organization of Interpretation
        Purpose, THEMES, Visitor Experience Model, Tangible/Intangible, Practice

3. Visitor Experience, Practical Tips & Techniques
        What’s relevant; nature, history, culture, Comfort & Safety, Groups Size, Schedule, Physical Limits, Problem Guests, Asking Questions, Using Props, Myths & Legends, Misinformed Guests. When you don’t know the answer, technology use, and Allowing guests to “experience it themselves”

4. Program Styles, Resources
        Learning Styles, Memory, Hospitality, Body Language, CultureResearch

5. Value of Interpretation to your organization:
        Product Quality, Marketing Strength, Message/Mission, Safety

• Introduce instructors, overview of workshop, participant introductions
• History, Definitions (Personal/Impersonal)
• Science of Interpretation: Maslows Hierarchy, Learning Styles, Memory, Culture, Group Size, Define: Guide, Teacher, Entertainer, Interpreter
• Program Organization: Determining what is relevant to your guests. Universal Concepts, Questions, Observations, Stating the Theme & Sub Themes, EROT...IK, Tangible/Intangible, Expecting the unexpected question
• Share Practical Tips: Myths & Legends, Misinformed Guests. When you don’t know the answer, Prices, Comfort & Safety, Schedule, Group Size, Physical Limits, Problem Guests, Expert Guests, Asking Questions, Using Props, Technology use, and Allowing guests to “experience it themselves
• Additional Resource
• Program Evaluation

Miles Phillips' bio
Diane Breeding's bio

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