Wisconsin promotes agricultural tourism in roadside campaign

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – Spring is coming, and so is rising season. To advertise Wisconsin’s farmers, the Wisconsin Agricultural Tourism Affiliation introduced a brand new roadside marketing campaign to advertise the whole lot from wine growers to petting zoos to berry patches.

Giant purple indicators geared up with QR codes will begin popping up at relaxation stops as a part of the marketing campaign. The code will direct guests to close by farms and different agricultural tourism experiences.

On the marketing campaign kickoff on Thursday, the state and the farmers shared pleasure for the promotion of agricultural tourism, hoping vacationers will be taught extra about the whole lot Dairyland has to supply.

“We had been in agri-tourism earlier than there was a phrase agri-tourism,” Don Schuster, co-owner of Schuster’s Playtime Farm in Deerfield.

For 30 years, the Schuster household has hosted interactive tourism experiences at their farm from hay rides to corn mazes.

“I’m a fifth era farmer from Dane County,” Schuster stated. “The farm most likely wouldn’t be a farm if it wasn’t for agri-tourism.”

Sylvia Burgos Toftness, co-owner and farmer at Bull Brook Hold, a Clear Lake grass-fed beef farm, agrees.

“Farmers are in search of different forms of income stream,” Burgos Toftness stated. “Agriculture tourism is a essential one on my farm.”

Now these agri-tourism spots can be highlighted and promoted to interstate vacationers via a partnership between Wisconsin’s Division of Transportation, the Agricultural Tourism Affiliation and the Incapacity Service Supplier Community.

“As a farmer, this marketing campaign makes me actually glad as a result of vacationers will be capable to discover our farms extra simply. They’ll have a direct line to us,” Burgos Toftness stated.

Farmers say the partnership may also assist farmers come collectively, and create a collective platform.

“[My wife] and I spent a few years combating many politicians to get to the spot the place we’re right this moment. Having a company like this, we’re not so on the market hanging by ourselves,” Schuster stated.

The state says the partnership may also carry extra site visitors via Wisconsin’s 28 totally different relaxation stops.

“Wisconsin is pretty distinctive in that we hold these amenities open and working 24/7,” Paul Hammer, deputy secretary of Wisconsin’s Division of Transportation, stated.

CEO of the Incapacity Service Supplier Community, Lisa Davidson, says that’s potential due to the workers from DSPN.

“You wouldn’t consider a Incapacity Supplier Service Community being linked to Roadside Service Services, however we’re and we’re the linchpin to creating positive that there are enough groups in place to take care of the amenities, to maintain them clear and welcoming,” Davidson stated.

Wisconsin’s Agricultural Tourism Affiliation needs Badger Land to be often known as America’s Agricultural Tourism Vacation spot, celebrating the tales behind Wisconsin’s producers and an business that brings in $104.8 billion to the state yearly.

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