About Us
Since the foundation of our state, family farms have served as the backbone of our communities. Our land and its natural resources define Michigan and the members of the Michigan Agritourism Association are committed to being good stewards of this wonderful gift.
Our Mission
Michigan Agritourism is a non-profit association that supports the agritourism industry through promotion, education, advocacy, problem resolution and networking. Our goal is to keep family farms sustainable, support local economic growth, and provide rich and unique experiences for visitors to make lasting memories.
History
Michigan Agritourism was founded in 2006 by a group of farmers who understood firsthand what it takes to run an agricultural operation that welcomes the public. Through their own experiences, they recognized the need for a supportive network — one that could give the industry a stronger voice in Lansing and in communities across Michigan. They also saw the value of bringing farmers together to share ideas, collaborate, learn from one another and strengthen the future of agritourism in our state.
In 2006, the Michigan Farm Marketing & Agri-Tourism Association was officially established as a membership-based nonprofit, grounded in a clear and purposeful mission: to advance Michigan agriculture, support a profitable and sustainable agritourism industry, represent member interests at both the state and national levels and collaborate with partner organizations to achieve these goals.
Around the same time, Michigan’s Farm Market and U-Pick Directory — originally published by the Department of Agriculture since 1979 — lost funding due to state budget constraints. With support from MDARD, Michigan Farm Bureau, Farm Bureau Insurance and state grants, the Association stepped in to carry the directory forward, expanding its reach with the launch of a companion website, MichiganFarmFun.com.
The Association simplified its name twice — first to the Michigan Agri-Tourism Association in 2012 and then to Michigan Agritourism in 2014 — to better reflect the full range of agricultural businesses that welcome the public. Alongside this evolution, its mission expanded to focus on five key areas of support for agritourism farmers: promotion, education, advocacy, problem resolution, and networking.
For twenty years, Michigan Agritourism has served as the leading voice for agritourism across the state, working closely with industry partners to support its members and strengthen Michigan’s agritourism industry.
About Agritourism
Agritourism is exactly what it sounds like — a blend of agriculture and tourism. It refers to any activity where people visit a working farm or agricultural business for enjoyment, education, or hands-on experiences.
Agritourism farms are working farms and other agriculturally based businesses that welcome the public. They are places where visitors can purchase locally grown products, visit farm animals and enjoy a wide variety of authentic farm experiences.
Agritourism comes in many forms — from a small roadside stand open for just a few weeks each summer to a large, year-round destination featuring a farm market, vineyard and tasting room. It may be a farm offering educational tours and classes, or a community farmers’ market where visitors can meet the people who grow their food.
What makes agritourism unique is the direct connection between farmers and the public. This is what sets it apart from other types of farming. Agritourism farmers are both agricultural producers and tourism operators (agri+tourism). Providing visitors with engaging, educational experiences is just as important as growing crops or raising animals — the two go hand in hand.
Both agriculture and tourism are cornerstone industries in Michigan and powerful drivers of the state’s economy. Agritourism, as an industry in itself, is experiencing steady growth and that trend is expected to continue. At the same time, Michigan farmers face real challenges: unpredictable weather, rising costs, labor shortages and increasing pressure from development on valuable farmland. Farming has never been easy, and maintaining profitability can be even more difficult.
Agritourism is helping to change that story. As farmers seek new ways to sustain their family farms, agritourism can offer greater stability. It has the potential to diversify revenue streams, generate higher returns than traditional farm sales and create opportunities for family members to stay actively involved in the farm for years to come.
That success is driven by public connection. By inviting people to experience and learn about agriculture firsthand, agritourism farms are building relationships with their customers and communities — creating connections that foster loyalty and keep visitors coming back year after year.
We’re all part of the story. When we visit a farm, we gain a deeper understanding and a greater appreciation, and we’re more inclined to support the people who grow our food. Studies show that those who visit farms are more likely to purchase local products wherever they shop, creating a ripple effect that benefits everyone.
We can’t thrive without our farms, and our farms can’t thrive without us. We need each other.
Agritourism is, at its heart, about connection — between farmers and families, land and legacy, tradition and innovation.
Agritourism brings us together.