Down on the farm: Farm tourism - yes, it's a real thing

The great migration from rural to urban living in the past century brings a nostalgia for farm life, which is met, in part, by agritourism. With the internet, organizations such as FarmStayUS, Hipcamp, and others can draw people from all over. Hosting strangers for a few days can be a cash stream boosting a working farmer’s livelihood.

But certain ambitious organizations use farm visits to knit relationships that last. Renewing the Countryside (RTC), a Minnesota nonprofit, pursues the mission of “connecting people interested in sustainable rural development.” Based in the town of Hammond, north of Rochester, Minnesota, RTC has been promoting the urban-rural connection for more than 25 years.

In the last few years, Matt Barthelemy of RTC has led dozens of two-day tours for groups who volunteer with short projects on a farm in exchange for an in-depth look at the farm operation. Since farms are far apart, visitors bring camping gear to spend the night.

Earlier this month, Barthelemy brought six people, who live in various parts of Minnesota, to the Food Farm in Wrenshall for a tour led by Janaki Fisher-Merritt and his father, John. Most of the visitors had had some experience with community-supported agriculture (CSA) and all expressed enthusiasm for initiatives that build up social ties in country settings.

They had started their weekend at Fairhaven Farm in Saginaw, where they pulled weeds and spread mulch. They stayed on the grounds of a neighboring farm and arrived at Food Farm midmorning. Since there were no small projects at hand, the visit was all show-and-tell.

One of the visitors, Kristine Jonas, is the manager of the Virginia Farmers Market Hub on the Iron Range, which uses grants to bring food to people in novel ways. The independent spirit of people in her area keeps many from getting help when they are short on food, so they might not visit a food shelf. By making direct contact with producers and consumers, Jonas puts together weekly boxes of food that she brings to folks in need. She is especially happy to have vegetables during the winter months.

Since the Food Farm stores tons of produce from November through April in order to supply shareholders and area markets and restaurants, they can sell to Jonas, too. Two other food hubs in Aitkin and Grand Rapids are also regular customers.

Northeast Minnesota is developing a reputation for a resilient network of small- and medium-sized food producers who reach consumers in many ways — CSAs, direct sales, websites, and regular commercial outlets such as restaurants, supermarkets and co-ops — through entrepreneurship, and with the help of public and private grants. Renewing the Countryside is a significant partner in highlighting this growth and in strengthening the ties that build up rural communities.

John Sanford “Sandy” Dugan of Wrenshall is the father of Annie Dugan, partner of Janaki Fisher-Merritt of the Food Farm. He’s always looking for a good farm story. Contact him at 218-384-4551 or [email protected].