This document outlines Doug Harrell's presentation on hosting farm tour groups. He discusses the key considerations for farmers in conducting tours, including determining the reason for tours, what will be shown or done during tours, the logistical requirements, desired outcomes, and ensuring tours align with long term farm goals. Harrell shares his own experience hosting small tours in the past at Harrell Hill Farms and how their approach has since changed to focus on one large tour group and field day each year.

1. ASAP PRESENTATION
FEBRUARY 22, 2014
HOSTING FARM TOUR GROUPS ON
YOUR FARM
DOUG HARRELL
HARRELL HILL FARMS

2. HOSTING TOUR GROUPS
• 1. WHAT IS YOUR REASON FOR DOING THIS?
• 2. WHAT WILL YOU FOCUS ON SHOWING?
• 3. WHAT WILL BE INVOLVED IN CONDUCTING
THE TOUR?
• 4. WHAT ARE THE RESULTS YOU WANT?
• 5. DO YOU HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO IT?
• 6. WILL THIS PROMOTE YOUR LONG TERM
GOALS?

3. WHAT IS YOU REASON FOR DOING
• 1. IS IT TO MAKE MONEY?
• 2. IS IT TO TEACH PEOPLE?
• 3. IS IT TO HAVE FUN?
• 4. IS IT TO MARKET YOUR FARM

4. WHAT WILL YOU FOCUS ON SHOWING
• 1. WHAT THINGS ABOUT YOUR FARM ARE
APPEALING TO THE GROUP?
• 2. ARE THESE THINGS APPEALING TO ALL
AGES?
• 3. IS IT SAFE TO THE GROUP TO SHOW THESE
THINGS?
• 4. ARE YOU WILLING TO SHARE SECRETS?

5. WHAT WILL BE INVOLVED
• 1. DO YOU HAVE THE RESOURCES NEEDED?
• 2. DO YOU HAVE THE MANPOWER
REQUIRED?
• 3. DO YOU HAVE THE TIME REQUIRED?
• 4. CAN YOU AFFORD TO DO IT?
• 5. DO YOU HAVE THE LEGAL PERMITS
NEEDED?

6. WHAT RESULTS DO YOU WANT
• 1. IS YOUR FOCUS TO MAKE MONEY?
• 2. WHO ARE YOUR PROSPECTS?
• 3. HOW ARE YOU PLANNING TO ATTACT
THEM?
• 4. IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO MAKE A PROFIT
WHAT ARE YOUR REAL COST?
• 5. ARE YOU WANTING TO BE A SERVICE TO
MANKIND?

7. DO YOU HAVE THE RESOURCES
• 1. WHAT EQUIPMENT WILL YOU NEED?
• 2. IF YOU ARE DOING HAYRIDES DO YOU HAVE
SAFE TRAILERS AND TRACTORS TO USE?
• 3. DOES YOUR LIABLITY INSURANCE COVER
THE ACTIVITIES YOU WANT TO DO?
• 4. IF YOU ARE PLANNING REFRESHMENTS DO
YOU HAVE THE PERMITS NEEDED TO DO
THIS?

8. WILL THIS HELP IN REACHING GOALS
• 1. DO YOU HAVE SHORT RANGE AND LONG
RANGE GOALS FOR YOUR FARM?
• 2 IS THIS ACTIVITY IN LINE WITH THE OTHER
ACTIVITIES ON YOUR FARM?

9. HARRELL HILL FARMS
• 1 FAMILY FARM SINCE 1796
• 2. DID SMALL TOUR GROUPS FOR 4 YEARS
• 3. SITUATION CHANGED AND NOW DO ONLY
ONE LARGE TOUR GROUP AND ONE FIELD
DAY EACH YEAR

10. SMALL GROUP ON THE FARM

11. DAD NO LONGER ALIVE

12. FAMILY FARM FESTIVAL

13. PROCESSING SORGUM SYRUP

17. THANK YOU
• ANY QUESTIONS?