The Marion Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, in conjunction with the Ohio Travel Association hosted a regional workshop June 21 at the Palace Theatre for travel industry organizations to learn more about developing agritourism experiences. With more than 75,000 farms and a travel economy that ranks 7th in the nation, Ohio has the potential to become a true leader through collaboration and creativity. The workshop, one of three across Ohio Included stops in Toledo and Dayton.
In the morning, workshop attendees learned the basics of agritourism in Ohio through The Ohio State University Extension. From understanding the economic opportunities of agritourism to identifying visitor interest, attendees discovered the booming agritourism market. The presentation covered new Ohio laws, recommendations for enhancing agritourism experiences, and how to market these experiences. This was followed by a panel discussion that included Shelly Detwiler, owner of Mitchell’s Berries in Union County and George Lawrence, owner of Lawrence Orchards in Marion.