The number of farms that receive income from agritourism has steadily grown in the Upper Midwest over the last two decades.
At that same time, the agritourism industry has grown exponentially for farmers across most of the region, according to agriculture census data.
Agritourism is defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a practice that “combines the essential elements of the tourism and agriculture industries” and invites the public to use farms as recreation, entertainment or educational experiences. Examples range from a family pumpkin patch to expensive farm retreats.
In Ohio, the number of farms that receive income from agritourism nearly doubled from 2002 to 2022, the most of any Midwestern state.
Indiana saw the largest growth in agritourism income from 2002 to 2022 — a 1,300% increase. Alongside Indiana, farmers in Michigan, Ohio, Iowa and Wisconsin each saw exponential growth of more than 1,000%.
