Transitions

Musings on Transitions

It is the season of graduations and my family has two of them. My oldest child graduated just recently with his Associate's Degree in Auto Mechanics and my middle child is graduating from high school this year. These events are bringing a lot of transition to our family. The older child has moved into his own apartment, and the middle is preparing for his summer job as a camp counselor about an hour and half away from home, and then a pending move to South Dakota for further education (a 15 hour drive away from Indianapolis!)

All this focus on transition means a lot of change management to our household. We are helping one kid prepare for life in a dorm, another with life in his own apartment, and for our youngest - it will mean being the only "kid" at home. We are having to consider how to schedule our activities and lives around the transitions and still make meaningful memories at the same time.

While there aren't any perfect answers to the best way to transition, thoughtful consideration to them means the change won't be so abrupt. Have you made a change on your farm or in your business recently? Did you update an entry, or move a snack stand for efficiency, or add a new employee? For anyone who has interacted with your farm or business in the past, this change may be disruptive to them. How can you make the transition easier? Have you made the updated entry super welcoming, or put a sign at the old snack stand location directing customers to the new one, or taken the time to introduce the new employee and their duties to everyone with whom they will work? A small gesture to manage the transition can reap great rewards in making the customer experience seamless.

Cheers to everyone navigating change and transitions in the current moment - either personal or work!

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What Is Agritourism? (And How Do You Know If You’re Already Doing It?)

By angie • April 23, 2026

Most people think they know what agritourism is. A farm. A pumpkin patch. Maybe a seasonal festival. And while those are agritourism… they’re only a small part of it. The bigger truth? A lot of destinations—and businesses—are already doing agritourism. They just don’t realize it yet. Let’s Start With the Definition At its core, agritourism is simple: Agritourism is an agricultural enterprise attracting visitors to a farm or ranch to experience a connection with agriculture production and/or processing through entertainment, education, and/or the purchase of farm products. That definition—commonly used by NAFDMA International Agritourism Association—is intentionally broad. Because agritourism isn’t about where you are. It’s about how people experience agriculture. So… How Do You Know If You’re Agritourism? Here’s the easiest way to think about it: If a visitor can engage with agriculture at your business or in your destination— you’re in the agritourism space. That engagement might look like: Having fun Learning something Eating or drinking something Buying something connected to agriculture If one (or more) of those is happening… you’re not adjacent to agritourism. You’re in it. All the Ways You Might Already Be Doing Agritourism You’re Agritourism If You… …Invite people onto a farm U-pick orchards Animal encounters Farm tours …Host events tied to agriculture Harvest festivals Bloom seasons (lavender, sunflowers, tulips) Pollinator or nature-based events …Serve food or drinks connected to agriculture Farm-to-table meals Wineries, cideries, breweries Tastings and culinary experiences …Sell products grown or made from agriculture Farm markets Value-added goods (jams, baked goods, honey) Branded farm products …Create experiences designed for fun on agricultural land Corn mazes Hayrides Playgrounds and attractions …Teach people something about agriculture Workshops Classes Demonstrations …Offer a place to stay connected to agriculture Farm stays Glamping Cabins on agricultural land …Connect multiple experiences across a destination Farm trails Local food routes Partnerships between farms, restaurants, and lodging If you checked even one of these… You’re not “considering” agritourism. You’re already doing it. The Real Question Isn’t If—It’s How Well Most destinations don’t need to “add” agritourism. They need to: Recognize what they already have Connect the pieces Design the experience more intentionally Because the real opportunity is in building an ecosystem where: Visitors stay longer Spend more And leave with a stronger connection Final Thought Agritourism isn’t a label you earn. It’s a lens you apply. And once you start looking through it, you realize: You were closer to it than you thought.