Bob McCarty Writes

I have a friend who designs web sites for the agri-tourism industry. “Web sites for what?” you ask. The agri-tourism industry:

“agriculture” plus “tourism” equals “agri-tourism”

You see, in order to stay afloat financially, many family farmers have been forced to find new ways to generate income. The traditional ways of family farming just don’t generate enough income. Those who live close enough to a large city-slicker population are turning to agri-tourism, a concept that involves farmers inviting city-slickers to spend a day – or just a few hours – on a working farm.

Now, contrary to what some people might think, two things are undeniably true about the vast majority of people who call themselves family farmers: They are not stupid, and they are not lazy. Let’s look at each of these statements:

FIRST, FARMERS ARE NOT STUPID – Their research tells them that the vast majority of people in America today are growing up without ever having set foot on a real, working farm. They also know that the average city-slicker parents of small children would love to pull their kids away from the video game screen and give them an opportunity to experience something as wholesome as a day in the life of a working farm. Think “Reality TV” without the TV. That leaves only reality, and it’s so real you can step in it.

SECOND, FARMERS ARE NOT LAZY — Some people have the impression that farmers plant in the fall, harvest in the spring and summer and sit around collecting subsidy payments the rest of the year. Nothing could be farther from the truth, especially for family farmers. Most of ‘em work from well before sunrise to well after sunset – many holidays included. When they’re not working, they’re worrying — about the weather, the bugs and the bank loans, just to name a few.

Now, when you combine “farmers are not stupid” with “farmers are not lazy,” you find out why agri-tourism works: because it allows farmers to make money coming and going. Here are the basics::

First, they charge admission to people who want to “visit” the farm;

Second, they allow those visitors to harvest whatever fruits or vegetables happen to be in season; and,

Finally, they charge those visitors – by the pound, usually – for whatever fruits and vegetables they picked and send them home. No paycheck. No benefits. Just a smile.

No, farmers are not stupid, and farmers are not lazy.

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[Note: I could have written this piece on farmer ingenuity when it comes to the subject of alternative fuels such as bio-diesel and ethanol. On that subject, however, I don't think my commentary would be nearly as complimentary. Maybe I'll cover that topic in another post down the road.]

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