What makes agritourism different from normal farm life?
On a working farm you know where the hazards are. Visitors do not. They may be unfamiliar with animals, wearing unsuitable shoes, distracted by phones or accompanied by small children who move quickly.
Agritourism covers many activities, from pick-your-own and farm stands to events, tours and overnight stays. Each activity has its own risks, so plan for what you actually offer.
Smaller farms often have an advantage, since personal contact and scale make it easier to see problems. They also have fewer staff, so each safety task falls on fewer people.
How do I find hazards from a visitor's point of view?
Walk the route that visitors will take, from the parking area to the farthest point. Look for uneven ground, holes, slippery spots, low branches, open water, unguarded machinery, electrical hazards, animal contact points and anything a child could climb or open.
Do the walk with someone who has never been on the farm if possible. Ask them what looks confusing or risky. Take notes and photos, then fix, fence or sign everything that cannot be removed.
Revisit the walk in different weather and at different times of day. A path that is fine in dry daylight may be dangerous in rain, dusk or after a frost.
- Parking and traffic areas where cars and walkers mix
- Surfaces: mud, ice, steps, ramps and uneven ground
- Animals, handling spaces and escape routes
- Water: ponds, tanks, ditches and washdown areas
- Equipment, storage buildings and chemical areas
What boundaries and signs should I use?
Use physical barriers, not signs alone, to keep visitors out of restricted areas. Fences, locked gates and clear paths guide behavior better than words. Where signs are needed, keep them short, easy to read and placed where decisions are made.
Provide clear directions to restrooms, hand washing, first aid and exits. At the start of a visit, give a brief orientation covering the main rules. Extension programs and agritourism safety groups publish orientation materials you can adapt.
Provide a place for visitors to wait, rest and use the restroom. Crowding at a single bottleneck causes pushing, tripping and frustration, and a well-planned flow of people prevents many of these problems.
How should I handle supervision and animals?
Have staff or trained helpers at animal contact areas, and limit the numbers entering at once. Keep animals calm and healthy, provide hand washing and tell visitors not to eat or drink around animals. Pregnant women, young children and people with weakened immune systems may face higher risk from certain germs, so ask your health department for guidance.
Never leave children alone with animals or equipment. Make sure that visitors understand they must stay with their group and that adults are responsible for children they bring.
Be especially careful with any activity that involves rides, climbing, mazes, ponds or open fire. These bring added risks, and you should ask your insurance agent and local officials before offering them.
- Hand washing stations with soap and water
- Staff at animal areas and event areas
- Limits on group size in contact spaces
- Clear rules on food and drinks
What about insurance, permits and local rules?
Talk to your insurance agent before opening to the public. Ask about liability for visitors, events and any activities with higher risk, such as hay rides or animal rides. Ask what the policy requires of you, such as signs, waivers or safety procedures.
Rules about agritourism, zoning, parking, food sales and signage vary by state and county. Some places have special agritourism laws, and others do not. Ask your county planning or zoning office, local health department and state agriculture department what applies.
How should I prepare for emergencies?
Have a plan for injuries, severe weather, fires and lost children. Keep a stocked first aid kit, a way to call for help and an address that responders can find quickly. Brief staff on what to do and who is in charge.
Run a quick drill with your team before the season. Make sure everyone knows where the exits are, how to reach emergency services and who counts heads. Record any incident, however small, and learn from it.
Post your address and the nearest cross street at the entrance so a staff member can give it to a dispatcher without hesitation.
Key takeaways
- See the farm as a visitor does and fix hazards before opening.
- Use real barriers and clear routes instead of relying on signs.
- Supervise animal contact and provide hand washing.
- Check insurance, zoning and health rules before welcoming the public.
- Plan and practice for emergencies.
Sources and further reading
Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Homestead & Small Farm Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.