“Agricultural tourism is a growing contributor to local economies all across our state,” said Sheila Everhart, Interim Executive Director of the Wisconsin Agricultural Tourism Association. “This is a trend we’ve seen growing for several years because people want to see how their food is grown, and they want personal relationships with producers. The state of Wisconsin is rich in an increasing diversity of agricultural adventures for the entire family. We are very glad that Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers has set aside the week of September 27 to October 3, to recognize and celebrate with visits to wineries, apple orchards and corn mazes, hayrides and petting zoos, the grow ing number of CSA farms, pasture walks and so much more,” she said.
Wisconsin is home to 64,793 farms on 14.3 million acres. This sector provides 435,700 jobs or almost 12 percent of the state’s total workforce and contributes $104.8 billion to the economy annually.
In 2019, Wisconsin tourism brought 112 million visitors, and over $21.6 Billion to the state. This added up to $1.6 billion in state and local taxes and $1.2 billion in Federal taxes. Agricultural tourism has grown annually, with visitors enjoying a wide range of activities, including farm to table events, corn mazes, pumpkin patches, wine tastings,
harvest festivals, craft breweries, distilleries, and farm weddings.
Agricultural tourism is about education, entertainment, relaxation, hands on experiences, and adventure. The Wisconsin Agricultural Tourism Association is dedicated to helping farms and families connect. The associations robust and user
friendly website makes it easy for families and individuals to find agricultural tourism opportunities across the state. WATA provides its members with information and instructive materials. The association also works to streamline the state’s regulatory environment. “Our aim is to foster a setting where agricultural tourism and innovation can flourish, and to help our farmers, ranchers, and foresters meet the world’s growing demand for agritainment, ag education, food, feed, fuel and fiber,” said Everhart.
Visit www.wiagtourism.com to find tourism opportunities all across Wisconsin. See the full proclamation from the governor below.
