A look inside Missouri Agritourism

by Eran Shelby, posted Dec. 21, 2009

Nestled in the heart of St. Clair County, Mo., is Kevin and Sharon Wisner Farms. What started as an FFA project is now a staple in this small community for fall decorations, farm tours, pumpkin picking and walnut hulling. This farm is a part of the growing agritourism trend found throughout Missouri.

The Missouri Agritourism Survey defines agritourism as a farm that receives visitors for recreation, tourism or leisure activities for fifteen or more days per year. The survey found that, on average, agritourism farms have more than 330 acres. This acreage is larger than the average traditional Missouri farm, which is 280 acres. This means that agritourism farms are still in the business of agricultural production, in additon to maintaining the land for landscaping for tourism destinations.

Kevin and Sharon Wisner Farms
Sharon Wisner of Wisner Farms said their farm started as her son’s supervised agriculture experience project for FFA seven years ago.

“When he graduated, we just decided to take it over,” Wisner said.

In 2002, their son harvested a half-acre of pumpkins, last year the Wisner’s harvested eight acres of pumpkins, and this year they harvested a little more than 20 acres.

Their business has grown from selling to local members of the community seven years ago, to now selling to chain stores all over southwest Missouri and northern Arkansas. Their products include pumpkins, gourds, squash, Indian corn, cornstalk bundles and straw. They sell to stores such as Westlake Hardware, Lowes, Woods Supermarket and a number of farmer market stands.

Many visitors enjoy trips to the farm; including, school groups, garden clubs, sorority clubs, the Midwest Vegetable Growers Association, local growers and commercial growers.

“We have people that stop by to help pick pumpkins, just so they can go out to the pumpkin patch,” Wisner said.

When Wisner talks about their farm, she says “it’s a volunteer family operation, that’s what we like to call it, it’s just a good way to get the family together.”

The Wisner type of attitude toward their business could be why agritourism is growing.

"People want a new experience — an escape from the stress of traffic jams, office cubicles and carpooling,” Jane Eckert of Eckert AgriMarketing said. “Families enjoy a drive to the country and spending the day together, especially in these times.”

Timber View Tree Land
In 1973, Mary Lou and Daryll Rait of Ashland, Mo., started Timber View Tree Land. Mary Lou Rait said the reason they started the Christmas Tree Farm was because they needed increased cash income off the land.

This is common around Missouri agritourism destinations. The agritourism survey said 26.4 percent of agritourism destinations said it was important to them to better utilize farm resources.

Her favorite part about owning the farm is: “The selling season, because everyone is in a happy holiday mood and it is fun interacting with the customers.”

She also said that compared to the farm’s earlier days they have wonderful facilities now, such as a big barn with a wood-burning stove, indoor plumbing, electricity, indoor and outdoor wreaths, and they also sell hot chocolate.

“We provide hayrides to the fields on weekends, and once we started that, we couldn't stop it, as customers seem to enjoy it so much,” Rait said.

The biggest change Rait has seen in agritourism with her Christmas tree farm is that more people are using artificial trees these days, but it hasn't really affected their business that much, there are still lots of people who prefer real trees.

 “It has become a tradition for some of our customers and we are now seeing second generations coming out,” Rait said.

There is an agritourism destination for nearly all seasons. Dairies are typically open all season, wine tasting can be done all year round, Wisner Farm’s and similar places are a great fall destination, and Christmas tree farms are an excellent winter destination.

“Come see us, we love meeting our customers,” Rait said.

For more information about Missouri agritourism, visit the Missouri Department of Agriculture’s Web site at: http://www.agrimissouri.com/agritourism.htm

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