Agritourism SD

14/02/2023

🌅 Have you been thinking of starting an agritourism business, or want to grow an already existing agritourism business?

Apply for the AgritourismSD Class Two today!

Click on this link for details 👇🏼

South Dakota Agritourism Agritourism is an activity carried out on a farm or ranch that allows members of the general public to view or participate in agricultural activities for recreational, entertainment, and/or educational purposes. With visitor interest continuing to demand more authentic, expe...

15/09/2022

The Switzer family owns Calamus Outfitters/Switzer Ranch outside of Burwell along the beautiful Calamus River in the Sandhills of Nebraska. They welcomed our agritourism group for an overnight stay and overview/tour of their business.

The ranch has been in the family since 1904 with cattle and grazing rotations being the primary sources of income. In the early 2000s, the next generation was looking for a way to come back to the ranch and wanted to bring added revenue to the place. Brian Switzer founded Calamus Outfitters, and it is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream, all while opening up big opportunities for generations to continue their family legacy.

This quote was taken from their website:
“The incorporation of tourism into the ranch operation has allowed not only Adam to return to the ranch with his family, but also provided an opportunity for his sister, Sarah, and her family to return as well.”

Calamus Outfitters offers beautiful lodging, event space, ranch habitat ecotours, and since they have the river running through their property also offer river adventures (tubing and tank riding down the river!).

Thank you Sarah, and family for your generous hospitality and for sharing your expertise and talents. Check out their website, and book your visit!

14/09/2022

Our AgritourismSD group stopped in at Bootleg Brewers just outside of Taylor, NE for a delicious lunch and great in-house brewed beer. Their website says to stop in and visit because “Ron makes a good beer and Dodie makes a great meal”. They were gracious hosts, and Ron gave us a brewery tour and shared his passion. What started out as a hobby for Ron on his ranch has turned into a now 20 barrel system at their brewery. They offer lodging right at the brewery, and folks can utilize a conference room onsite. Check out their page and website for more details!

12/09/2022

The AgritourismSD Class is back on the road! Our first stop was Farm Life Creamery this morning.

Chad and Laura have created the perfect family friendly farm experience just ten miles south of Mitchell, right outside of Ethan, SD.

Laura describes their farm haven just off the highway as a “small and humble place” and said “I can tell you our story and I know you’ll love it.”

And we did! They use their family’s Holstein cattle herd to produce a huge variety of artisan cheeses and also to bottle their own farm fresh whole milk. And when I say huge variety, I mean huge variety (think cajun, honey mustard, blt, Bloody Mary, and the list goes on)! They love doing farm tours, educating folks on their Grade A milk and production process, and inviting all ages to partake in activities on the place. They built an impressive 18-hole mini golf course that is lit even for night-time games. They have a playground, petting zoo, farm store, tours, and host many events throughout the year. Their “date night” event is a local favorite!

Chad and Laura put a huge emphasis on how important their community and the surrounding businesses are to them. They appreciate the local support and word of mouth that has brought folks from all across the United States onto their farm.

Check out their page, and better yet stop in when you are in their area! Thanks so much for having our group!

20/10/2021

pictures at Stensland Family Farms

20/10/2021

Happy dairy cows actually live at Stensland Family Farms.

The AgritourismSD class had the privilege of touring Stensland Family Farms this afternoon, located just east of Sioux Falls near Larchwood, IA.

In 2016 their dreams of a creamery on their century old family farm became a reality. And today they see through each production step of milk, ice cream, cheese curds, and aged cheese blocks right on their farm. And when I say each step, I mean each step - from raising the heifer calf to a mature cow, to milking, to processing, packaging, and delivering the finished product. They sell their products in their farm store on the place, but also have five store locations in Sioux Falls and deliver to local retailers (and by local I mean across SD, IA, MN, NE, and CO)! The Stenslands have incorporated modern technology, three robotic milkers, organic crop land, and many other aspects to help their operation run smoothly and keep the stress on their cattle as low as possible. All of this helps better their products and operation overall. Every family member in each generation plays a roll on their farm and within the business, and they love sharing the heart of the place with others. They offer farm tours, and are also a Harvest Host location.

Stenslands care so deeply about their products, their farm, their family legacy, and their consumers. Check out their website to read about the history of the farm, to get a feel for their operation, and to find their products near you. And if you are their neck of the woods, stop out to their farm store!

Thank you for having us, Stenslands!

https://www.stenslandfamilyfarms.com

Local, fresh homemade ice cream. Locally produced off the farm dairy products including cheese, ice cream, butter and milk.

30/07/2021

AgWeek story about our trip to North Dakota last week. Thanks to Katie for highlighting what we are working on with our class!

Class 1 of AgritourismSD kicked off its two-year class in May, providing an "intensive educational program designed to provide farmers and ranchers with the opportunity to create an enterprise that utilizes resources in different ways to generate new income streams," according to South Dakota State....

22/07/2021

Pipestem Creek Garden Lodging and Nature Retreat was another stop outside of Carrington, ND that the AgritourismSD Class took yesterday. Ann Reimers Hoffert took us on a delightful tour of her family farm and set up. Her beautiful landscape and flower gardens lend themselves well to walking trails, bird watchers, and bride to be’s planning their weddings. She offers lodging, air bnb, and event hosting on her family farm. Her lodging is usually booked a year out in advance during water fowl hunting season, and in the months when her grounds are really blooming brides are drawn to her picturesque backdrops. It’s also a perfect spot for a family reunion, or couple’s getaway. Ann offers fully furnished lodging options, and also quaint little cabins that have a fun rustic appeal. Check out the granary she has turned into a cute little getaway!

21/07/2021

Check out how neat Dakota Sun Gardens & Winery is! This was the second stop for our class today.

http://www.dakotasungardens.com

21/07/2021

Our first stop this morning was at Ostlie's Sunnyside Acres outside of Carrington, ND. Mike and Lindsay host tours and events on their farm throughout the summer months showcasing their orchard, tea garden, garlic field, and farm boutique. They also have done “pick your own” within their orchard. Lindsay offers art and sewing classes on the farm, and has had a great response to her barn quilt painting workshops. Their website is very user friendly, and there you can also purchase products from their farm boutique, including art classes, sewn clothing, and their gourmet garlic powder among other items.

The Ostlie’s had great advice for our group, and we appreciated their honesty about the pros and cons of a “pick your own” orchard. They encouraged folks to consider accessibility when creating the layout of your orchard. Will people enjoy the walk? Is it handicap accessible? Will your plant be easy to pick (i.e. very low to the ground or time consuming)? Lindsay stressed that it is okay if your goals change over time with your changing lifestyle. She said it is very important to value your time and know it’s worth from the very beginning. She encourages everyone to take a photography class to help showcase their products well, whether that be on social media or on the website.

They were a neat young couple that have many ideas for their property. Check their website out 👇🏼.

https://www.ostlieacres.com

20/07/2021

Spending a bit of time at Black Leg ranch learning about how to balance multiple enterprises on a working ranch.

20/07/2021

AgritourismSD’s first stop today was at Papa's Pumpkin Patch and Papa's Polar Patch in Bismarck, ND. Dave, Corey, & their family have established an extremely successful business over the past 38 years that now caters to over 60,000 visitors each September and October (w/ some events in December). They have added many free and purchase ticketed activities for all age groups to enjoy. Their main focus is an affordable experience for families that brings them back year after year, and maybe multiple times a year.

Dave discussed how getting local school/sports organizations, church and community groups involved with their business has helped both financially and marketing wise. This provides work with hauling pumpkins, manning activity stations, and concession stand sales. It also generates more word of mouth marketing throughout involved groups and their outside connections.

Their team has set themselves apart from their competition by creating awesome photo opportunities for families, couples, and individuals throughout the pumpkin patch. This includes home grown mum displays, wood work creations (example: their giant chair), pumpkin displays, and fall foliage displays. They work hard to be known as the go to fall photo stop, and this helps set them apart.

Papa’s Pumpkin Patch puts huge emphasis on customer service and creating a positive experience for their guests. He gave mention to Walt Disney’s vision for what he wanted in a park for his family, and has applied that same spirit for their business.

https://papaspumpkinpatch.com

09/07/2021