Farm Tours and Events

What kind of tour or event fits your farm?

Decide what you want visitors to experience. A short guided walk, a harvest dinner, a school visit, a seasonal festival and a one day open house all ask for different space, staff and money.

Start small. A modest tour for a few families teaches you more about your pace, your route and your comfort with strangers than a large event ever could.

Think about whether the event matches your values and the nature of your farm. Some families enjoy hosting crowds, and others prefer a quiet visit by a small group.

What permits and insurance might you need?

Events can involve rules about crowds, temporary structures, parking, food service, alcohol, music, signs and traffic. Requirements differ by state, county and town, and sometimes depend on the number of attendees.

Contact your county planning or zoning office, your county health department and your local fire authority. Tell your insurance agent exactly what you plan, including numbers of guests and activities, and ask what coverage is needed. Never assume your regular farm policy covers an event.

Keep a copy of every permit, written approval and insurance document in one folder, and bring it to the event. If an official asks questions, you will be able to answer quickly.

• Write down every office you contacted and what they said.
• Ask whether food or drink needs a permit.
• Ask whether you need a plan for parking and traffic.

How do you design a safe route?

Walk the planned route with fresh eyes. Look for holes, slippery ground, low branches, open water, electric fencing, machinery and chemical storage. Close or rope off anything that is unsafe.

Plan the route so that visitors do not need to cross traffic or enter animal pens. Provide handwashing stations near animals and before any food, and post a clear request that visitors wash before eating.

Restrooms and drinking water are basic. Ask your county health department how many facilities are required for a group your size, and do not rely on guesses.

How do you keep animals and visitors safe?

Animals can be startled by crowds, and visitors can be hurt by even gentle animals. Choose calm animals, limit contact, and always have a staff member present to supervise.

Be especially careful with young children, pregnant visitors and people with weakened immune systems around livestock. Share the county health department's or CDC guidance on animal contact and illness prevention in a short sign or handout, and ask them if you have questions.

How do you staff and communicate?

Assign each helper a clear job: greeting, parking, guiding, restroom checks, first aid contact. Brief everyone beforehand on the route, the rules and what to do in an emergency.

Tell guests ahead of time about parking, footwear, weather, accessibility and what to bring. Clear messages reduce confusion, complaints and risk.

A short training session before the event is worth the time. Walk through scenarios such as a lost child, a spill, a fall, a visitor who ignores a rule and an animal that gets loose.

• Name one person in charge of safety.
• Post the farm address for emergency calls at a visible point.
• Keep a list of helpers and their roles.

What if the weather turns?

Wind, heat, lightning and rain change plans fast. Decide in advance what conditions will cause you to postpone or cancel, and tell people how they will hear about it.

Check forecasts from the National Weather Service in the days leading up to the event. Have shade and water on hot days and a safe shelter plan for storms.

Have a clear point where visitors can ask for help and a person who knows the farm's address and nearest road for emergency services.

• Post the weather plan on your page and by the gate.
• Keep a list of phone numbers for local emergency services.

How do you judge whether it was worth it?

Add up your costs, including the time you and your family spent preparing and cleaning up, and compare them with income and goodwill gained. Include any new customers who came back after the event.

Ask visitors what they liked and what they did not. Keep notes so that next year's event is easier and safer.

Look at the money honestly, since events that feel busy do not always pay. Count the hours you worked, the food or supplies you bought and any damage to the property.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Rural Farm Life Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.