The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Visit Iowa Farms program is hosting a free one-day workshop in Johnson County in eastern Iowa dedicated to important health and safety concerns in the agritourism industry.

The workshop, oriented to agritourism destination business owners, will be Dec. 14 in Classrooms A and B at the ISU Extension office in Johnson County in Iowa City. Registration begins at 8 a.m., and the final presentation will conclude by 4 p.m. The workshop will provide lunch, refreshments and materials. Attendees also may enter a drawing to win a stipend intended for farm safety-improvement.

Agritourism growing business in Iowa
“Agritourism offers exceptional educational and entertainment opportunities, but it’s important for businessowners to come together and discuss best practices regarding health and safety,” says Kendra Meyer, program specialist in value-added agriculture with ISU Extension. “The winter season is the perfect time to become better informed. When the growing season picks up again, we want all of the visitors and employees to be safe during their time on the farm.”

Agritourism, as a side-business for farmers, is growing in popularity, as producers try to diversify their farming operations and increase profits. By combining agriculture and tourism, agritourism offers new sources of revenue, but it does present potential problems and legal complications to agritourism operators.

Preregistration required
ISU Extension specialists will explore topics related to food safety, legal risks, public play area safety, pesticide safety, protecting animals and humans from biosecurity risks, and emergency preparedness. The workshop is funded by the pilot project program at the Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health, located at the University of Iowa.

The workshop is free, but preregistration is required for a meal count. Email [email protected] or call 515-294-9483 to register. For more information, visit visitiowafarms.org.

Source: Iowa State University