Agricultural Preservation

Agritourism - Farm Stands, Wineries and Breweries

Cultivating Agritourism in Thurston County

June 2, 2012 - 9am-3pm - Heritage Hall, Thurston County Fairgrounds
Free with registration!

Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers and land stewards are embracing agritourism and ecotourism as a way to boost the local economy, protect farmland and natural ecosystems, preserve traditions, educate the public, and satisfy the growing interest in agricultural and ecological tourism attractions. Discover if agritourism or ecotourism in Thurston County and the Puget Sound region of western Washington State is in your future at this free event!

Event Schedule:
> Welcome by County Commissioner Sandra Romero.
> Curtis Beus, Washington State University Extension: "Agritourism: Cultivating Tourists on the Farm."
> Overview of the recently adopted Thurston County Agritourism Overlay District.
> Complimentary lunch provided by the Visitor and Convention Bureau.
> Panel discussion with local agritourism and ecotourism operators.
> Resources for moving forward with your agritourism and ecotourism business idea.

Register:
Call or email the Visitor & Convention Bureau at: (360) 704-7544 - brenthunter@visitolympia.com

Event Organizers:
Thurston County, Washington State University Extension, Economic Development Council of Thurston County, Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater Visitor & Convention Bureau

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Agritourism is becoming very popular across the state. The phrase “agritourism” generally refers to any activity that attracts visitors to a farm or ranch. Agritourists can choose from a wide range of activities that include picking fruits and vegetables, riding horses, tasting honey, learning about wine and cheesemaking, or shopping in farm gift shops and farm stands for local hand-crafted goods.

Agritourism gives farmers the opportunity to educate visitors about their way of life, share their agricultural heritage with others, and earn extra income.  Other terms for similar forms of tourism include geo-tourism, sustainable tourism, and nature-tourism -- all of which are growing exponentially in popularity and importance to our local and state economies.

The Thurston County Resource Stewardship Department is in the process of developing an Agritourism Overlay District in southern Thurston County. The purpose of this ordinance is to strengthen the agricultural economy and promote local agriculture.

 Please check back soon for updates and meeting schedules and take a minute to help with our effort by taking our agritourism survey (see link below)

• See a map of the draft overlay district (PDF)
• Read our agritourism fact sheet (PDF)
• Take our survey
• This effort would require a change to Thurston County's Development Code (specifically, 2010 Development Code Docket A-9 (wineries and breweries).  Click here for more information (external link).

Helpful Links

• Nature Tourism Benefits Washington Communities -  Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife
• Entertainment Farming and Agritourism - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service
• Agricultural Zoning Codes Regulating Agritourism - UC Small Farm Program
• Small Farm and Direct Marketing Handbook - Washington State Dept. of Agriculture
• Washington State Farmers Market Association

 

Contact Us

Contact Scott McCormick, Associate Planner.  Phone: (360) 754-3355 ext. 6372 or e-mail mccorms@co.thurston.wa.us.