From Farm Gates to Fresh Ideas: Highlights from NAFDMA’s 2025 Agritourism Farm Tour in Ontario

Suzi Spahr •  August  29, 2025

There’s something powerful about stepping foot on another farmer’s land—walking their rows, hearing their stories, and seeing firsthand the creativity they’ve poured into every guest experience. That’s exactly what happened when NAFDMA brought together over 100 passionate agritourism professionals for a two-day, seven-farm tour across the Toronto region, July 15–16, 2025.


The 2025 Agritourism Farm Tour wasn't just a bus ride through beautiful countryside—it was a deep dive into agritourism at its best, hosted by some of Ontario’s most respected and innovative farm businesses.



A Journey Through Ontario's Agritourism Gems

The tour kicked off with warm welcomes and big ideas. Each stop brought new perspectives—from diversified product offerings to hospitality-driven guest experiences.


Farms We Visited:

  • Brooks Farms – A family-run operation offering immersive experiences, seasonal festivals, and heartfelt storytelling.
  • Chudleigh’s Entertainment Farm – Known for its scenic charm, extensive food service, and a guest-focused brand that’s been delighting families for generations.
  • Downey’s Farm Market – A masterclass in balancing large-scale agritourism with operational excellence.
  • Pingle’s Farm Market – With a modern farm market and dynamic events, they offered lessons in atmosphere, branding, and retail flow.
  • Snyder’s Family Farm – Where spooky season meets sweet farm fun—an inspiring example of dual-season innovation.
  • Springridge Farm – Celebrating its 65th season, this family farm brought stories of resilience, legacy, and continually evolving with purpose.
  • Willowtree Farm – A full-circle operation that marries local food production, on-farm dining, and transparent farming practices.


Why This Tour Mattered

These weren't just farm visits—they were live case studies in what’s possible. Attendees explored:

  • Efficient market layouts that enhance retail sales
  • Seasonal programming that extends the guest experience
  • Diversification strategies that help farms thrive year-round
  • Family legacy transitions and leadership succession insights
  • Innovative food service models that keep guests on-farm longer

And just as important: conversations on the bus, shared meals, and fireside chats—where the real magic often happens.


It’s About More Than Ideas—It’s About Connection

At NAFDMA, we know that the most lasting insights often come not just from speakers or sessions, but from connection. This tour reminded us that the agritourism community is not only creative, it’s collaborative. Attendees didn’t just walk away with notes—they left with renewed energy, new friends, and actionable steps for their own farms.


What’s Next?

If you loved this experience or missed out and want in on the next one, mark your calendars for the Agritourism Learning Retreat in Minnesota – August 18–20, 2025. Registration is open now, but space is limited. Learn more here.


A Huge Thank You

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our host farms who opened their gates, shared their successes (and challenges), and offered a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to grow strong in agritourism.


If you’re not yet a NAFDMA member, consider joining today. Our tours, resources, and peer network are designed to equip and inspire you for every season of your agritourism journey.


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When guests rave about your… bathrooms, you know you’re onto something. At Stuckey Farm, what started as one dad’s firm “no” to porta-potties has grown into Agritourism Solutions—a build shop that designs and customizes luxury bathroom trailers purpose-built for farms. We caught up with Jordan Pierce to talk origin story, design choices, build timelines, guest reactions, and what’s next. “My dad said, ‘Build me a bathroom trailer—and make it nice enough that guests leave surprised they just had a great bathroom experience… on a farm.’” — Jordan Pierce Origin Story & Inspiration What inspired you to build bathroom trailers on the farm? Like many farms, we felt stuck with porta-potties—and my dad hated them. One day he came to me and said, “Build me a bathroom trailer and make it nice so guests are pleasantly surprised they had a good bathroom experience at a farm.” That was the spark. Any unusual inspirations that shaped the concept? Our family has some background in remodeling and house flipping, so we asked, what would a bathroom feel like if it were in your home? That residential mindset drives our choices. Design & Functionality Walk us through the designs. We currently offer three base layouts for 32' trailers and two for 18' , and then we customize from there. Recently we built a trailer with 8 women’s stalls and 2 men’s stalls plus a removable wall so it can convert to women-only in the future. Beyond layout, clients chose flooring, light fixtures, vanities, sink styles, and colors —down to the details. These are truly built to order. Standard features you won’t compromise on? All trailers are fully insulated with luxury vinyl plank flooring , and we spec extended tongues (so if someone jackknifes the trailer, they won’t slam into the fresh corner you just paid for). We only use high-quality materials. These are luxury bathroom trailers —we want buyers to feel a touch of the same luxury their guests will feel. How do you decide on finishes—lighting, sinks, stalls? We sit down with each farm and pick everything together so the trailer matches their brand. Exterior colors can be customized too—and if nothing fits, we can vinyl wrap the trailer. These are basically made to exact order for other farms. Building & Logistics What does the build process look like—from concept to completion? Once the deposit lands, it’s about 9 weeks for the shell and 3 weeks for our interior build-out . Any challenges—weather, budget, permitting, technical issues? Our workshop fits two 32-footers side-by-side , so weather’s not a problem. Permitting hasn’t been an issue because the units are portable . How long did the very first build take—and how about now? Our first farm trailer took about 5 weeks to finish out. Now that we’ve got our rhythm, it’s about 3 weeks to complete interiors once the shell arrives. Function & Farm Fit How do the trailers change the flow at events? Porta-potties can feel like a “negative” guests tolerate. With our trailers, people come out smiling —and talking about how nice the bathroom was. Five years ago I wouldn’t have believed I’d hear guests discussing bathrooms at Stuckey Farm… yet here we are. Permanent or mobile? Best case, you tie into an existing septic field . But there are options: we can pump into fertilizer tanks that your septic service empties, and we can build onboard tanks when needed. Capacity & maintenance? An optimized 32' trailer with 8 women’s stalls, 3 urinals, and 1 men’s stall can comfortably move ~6,500 people in a weekend with little to no wait. Maintenance is surprisingly light— sweep occasionally, restock TP . Because the space feels upscale, guests tend to keep it clean . We also include toiletry containers to cut down on clogs. Guest Experience & Reactions What are you hearing from guests and staff? Our staff bathrooms are permanent… and staff still choose the trailer . Guests tell friends in line they have to “go in there and try it.” Any surprises? We overbuild and oversize the plumbing , and maintenance has stayed much lower than expected . Design Philosophy & Vision What principles guide your design? Luxury. A luxury buying experience for the farm and a luxury using experience for the guest. We want to help farms elevate the standard and finally say goodbye to the—pardon me— “green plastic poop saunas.” How do you want guests to feel inside? As close to home as possible. Going to the bathroom away from home is vulnerable; we design to reduce that discomfort. Does this align with your broader brand? Yes—my dad and I built out a larger offering called Agritourism Solutions to provide practical, guest-experience-forward solutions for farms. We want to help farms elevate their guest experience and set a new standard for bathrooms on farms. Special Features & Storie s Any special touches to highlight? Lots. Every door and divider are hand-built , and most elements are custom. The craftsmanship is a point of pride. Memorable build moments? We run a tight ship in the shop—fun happens out on the farm. Check our Facebook for the lighter side. Future Plans & Reflections What’s next on the product roadmap? We’re designing three modular trailers : Baby-changing / nursing-mom trailer Mobile office Bride or groom getting-ready suite What did you learn that you’ll carry forward? Every trailer sparks new ideas. I wish I could turn my brain off, but I'm always coming up with better ways to do things and new features to add. What’s next for Stuckey Farm itself? We’ll refine existing offerings and keep improving. Practical Advice for Other Farms Advice for farms considering something similar? Even if you’re staying with porta-potties, mitigate the experience —dress them up, increase cleaning on busy weekends. But if you get a bathroom trailer , there’s no going back —your guests will thank you. Anything you wish you’d known earlier? Rental demand. Off-season rentals can generate real revenue. I talked with a farm that rented a bathroom trailer for two months for $30,000 . At-a-Glance Specs (example 32' build) Layouts: 3 base (fully customizable) Example capacity: 8 women’s stalls + 3 urinals + 1 men’s stall Throughput: ~6,500 guests/weekend with minimal waits Materials: Fully insulated; LVP flooring ; high-quality fixtures Extras: Extended tongue; custom finishes; exterior color or vinyl wrap options Plumbing: Oversized lines; onsite tanks or tie-in; pump-to-tank options Connect with Agritourism Solutions Contact: Jordan Pierce Phone: 317-371-4047 Email: jordanpierce@stuckeyfarm.com “When 20-year-old me joined Stuckey Farm, I never imagined I’d be talking luxury bathroom trailers—but here we are, and I’m loving it.” — Jordan