Making the Most of Opportunities

Collaborate: It has been the steady growth of collaborations that has made the Minnesota River Valley agritourism project possible. When small, independent, isolated sites join forces they create a stronger voice. From the five-county Prairie Waters Tourism Coalition to the cooperative marketing of farms and farm-related sites and then to the creation of a scenic byway to merge efforts throughout the valley, this region has moved agritourism to the next level of success through strong partnerships.

Find the Fit between the Community and Tourism: Farmers and other agriculture-related venues in the valley have long welcomed the idea of sharing their businesses with visitors as sources of both pride and additional income. The coalescing agritourism industry in the valley is a natural extension of the communities' efforts to strengthen their own economies.

Make Sites and Programs Come Alive: Visitors seeking an agricultural experience can get as down to reality as they like on farm visits where daily chores must go on—visitors or not. The true-to-life activities leave tourists with little doubt about the lifestyles of working farmers and growers. At the All Natural Fiber Farm in Montevideo, visitors can learn how to take fiber from the animals, turn it into yarn, then try their hand at spinning and weaving.

Focus on Quality and Authenticity: Those who take Prairie Waters' self-guided tours will find Minnesota agricultural life and work at its most authentic. Each producer in the brochure was selected for the quality of the experience they could offer tourists. At EarthRise, a Community Supported Agriculture venture near Louisburg, for example, visitors can tour the gardens and observe the harvesting and preparation of weekly baskets to shareholders. Tours include soil building projects, gardening techniques, greenhouse operation, and use of ducks and chickens for insect control and soil preparation.

Preserve and Protect Resources: Thanks to tourists' renewed interest in farming and other agricultural industries, the producers in the Minnesota River Valley have regained some economic strength to help them stay viable, and thus protect them as independent producers—descendants of hard-working farmers who settled the region.