According to the 2017 USDA Ag Census , more than 28,500 farms across the country earned income from agritourism and recreational services . These activities generated nearly $ 950 million in additional revenue , with an average of $ 33,222 earned per farm .
Photos provided by Diamond D Ranch . Educating Urban Families
The sprawling Diamond D Ranch is an oasis among the growing metropolis of Jacksonville , Florida . Located just 25 minutes from downtown with the encroaching urban community only two miles away , the working cattle ranch opens its gates for guests to experience agriculture firsthand .
“ We have watched thousands of acres that were once agriculture land turn into commercial and residential properties ,” said K ’ Leigh Griffin Combs , vice president of Diamond D Ranch . “ We can ’ t control growth , but we can share agriculture ’ s story with as many people as possible .”
Combs ’ great-grandfather Admiral “ Dewey ” Griffin ( the “ D ” in the ranch ’ s name ) started Diamond D Ranch in 1950 when Florida was free-range and cowboys would gather from different ranches to drive , sort and brand cattle from across the countryside . A decade later , years before agritourism caught on , the Griffin family started offering farm tours to students . What began as a convenient field trip for local schools turned into a successful part of the family ’ s business , with more than 25,000 students visiting the ranch every year . And Combs expects those numbers to grow to 30,000 students in the next five years .
Combs ’ parents and grandparents understood early on the importance of sharing the ranch with the community and educating future consumers . They also realized it was hard to rely solely on beef for their income , and agritourism created another revenue stream .
On weekdays , buses filled with schoolchildren wind their way to the ranch . The kids are eager to see live animals , and for some of them , it is the first time to come face-to-face with cattle . With each visit , kids experience an animal orientation , nature walk and a wagon ride . They get up close and personal with cattle , learning how beef gets from pasture to plate .
“ When we give tours to schoolchildren , we don ’ t sugarcoat how food is raised ,” Combs said . “ We tell kids the cattle they visit on ranch , they will ‘ meat ’ again .”
By being truthful and lighthearted , Combs believes the message she and her team share about the beef industry and the value cattle have to everyday lives is reaching visitors . To help bridge the gap between producers and consumers , Combs makes sure employees are trained to handle tough questions and respond with care and compassion when kids and adults with vegetarian preferences visit .
What is Agritourism ?
The National Agricultural Law Center defines agritourism as a form of commercial enterprise linking agricultural production and / or processing with tourism to attract visitors onto a farm , ranch , or other agricultural business for the purposes of entertaining or educating the visitors while generating income for the farm , ranch , or business owner .
19 NATIONAL CATTLEMEN DIRECTIONS 2023