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Indiana farmers using agritourism to generate new revenue streams

Two Indiana farm families are using agritourism to generate additional revenue for their operations.

Chris Steele with Steele Farms says his family’s corn maze and pumpkin patch has helped the farm stay profitable.

“We really made a conscious effort to raise income per acre without growing acres,” he says. “We tried to use as many resources as we could that we already had to pull it off. It’s worked really well for us.”

During a recent Indiana Farm Bureau webinar, Bruce Martin with Dash 90 Wines says diversification is also creating new opportunities for the next generation.

“My two boys are here, so they kind of have their own specialties of what they’re good at in the business and where they work,” he says. “Succession planning is crucial to me, because they want to be part-owners one day and have their own role on the farm.”

Steele says agritourism has become an important part of their long-term business strategy while also building a stronger relationship with their local community.