Farm, Food, and Fun: Agritourism in Johnson County
March 22, 2018
Farmers, policymakers, advocates, teachers, and community members gathered at the Coralville Public Library to participate in a dialogue focused on agritourism in Johnson County. The public forum encouraged attendees to share their ideas and visions about how the development of agritourism locally could enhance and strengthen Johnson County and our community food system.
The event began with a local food forum where local farmers and organizations could share what they do. Then there was a panel discussion consisting of:
- Josh Busard, Director of Johnson County Planning, Development and Sustainability
- Kurt Friese, Johnson County Supervisor
- Anna Geyer, Farmer and owner of Geyer’s Oven
- Lucie Laurien, Professor of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Iowa
The panel was moderated by Eric Christianson, ISU Extension, and focused on three broad topics: the benefits of agritourism, its challenges, and possible solutions for agritourism in Johnson County. After the panel, attendees participated in small group discussions. The audience broke into groups to discuss their own ideas and experiences and react to what they heard during the panel. After discussion, one member of each group was given the opportunity to ‘report out.’ Each group was given a large sheet of paper to record their conversation, and each attendee received a survey (see Appendix). The surveys were also available to take online.
The small group discussions were wide ranging. Some of the themes included:
- It can be difficult for smaller non-conventional farms to be profitable. Agritourism diversifies income streams for farmers.
- Agritourism can be expensive and sometimes excludes low-income individuals.
- Agritourism should be considered education.
- Differences between counties have pushed some farmers to locate outside of Johnson County.
- Clarity is important in terms of what is allowed and what is not.
- Changes to agriculture may require an update to zoning laws.
- Flexibility in zoning around agritourism is important.
- Agricultural exemption to county zoning: preventing sprawl without discouraging small farms is a challenge.
Survey Results
What do you want to see more of in Johnson County? (ranked)
| Rank | Response |
|---|---|
| 1 | Farm stands |
| 2 | On-farm Restaurants |
| 3 | Event venues |
| 4 | Farm tours |
| 5 (tie) | Orchards (not pick your own) |
| 5 (tie) | On farm food trucks/carts |
| 7 (tie) | Overnight stays |
| 7 (tie) | Vineyard tours/tasting |
| 9 | Pick your own fruit/veg |
| 10 | Cut your own trees |
| 11 | On farm petting zoo |
| 12 (tie) | Bike Tours |
| 12 (tie) | Educational Opportunities |
| 12 (tie) | Community Gardens |
| 12 (tie) | Bike Tours |
| 16 (tie) | Corn Maze |
| 16 (tie) | Hay Rides |
| 16 (tie) | Cookouts |
| 16 (tie) | Small housing development built around CSA operation |
Number of times attendees participated in the following activities in the past year:
| Activity | Number of times |
|---|---|
| On-farm Restaurants | 58 |
| Farm Stands | 55 |
| Farm Event Venue | 42 |
| Farm Tours | 36 |
| On farm food trucks/carts | 32 |
| Orchards | 32 |
| Vineyards | 28 |
| Pick your own fruit/veg | 27 |
| Overnight farm stay | 11 |
| Hay rack ride | 8 |
| Cut your own tree | 7 |
| Corn maze | 6 |
| On farm petting zoo< | 5 |
Suggested topics for future forums
- More on agritourism (3)
- Defining the difference between agritourism and farm
- Agritourism how-to and how to actually do it successfully
- Developing a vision/mission in Johnson County for agritourism
- The agricultural exemption to county zoning and how to balance the need to control sprawl with projecting farms. (2)
- Community Gardens (2)
- Compare levels of regulation with other counties
- Public Health and Planning
- Resources for beginning farmers.
Comments for the Board from the surveys
Agritourism would be great for Johnson County. We just need our regulations and regulators to actually encourage and support rather than discourage it. I hope the new comp plan happens quickly and is as good as promised. Let's fast-track it so that we don't experience any more "brain drain" to other more friendly states and counties.
Field trips for people/kids from low-income parts of the community; opportunities to make food on site using local produce.
Connecting farms to bicycle infrastructure... bike hubs.
Opportunities/employment, especially for individuals w/disabilities i.e. autism."
Find a balance between long-term vision and nit picking arbitrary details that truly hamper growth. If you want to be progressive, then do something progressive. Don't just greenwash agritourism.
Godspeed to get the new plan in place so we can follow it! Know our path! Thank you :-) I am grateful to everyone here sharing their gifts and passions. I feel we are at the cusp of creating a tide of synergy that will help reveal the shift from competition to cooperation to feed all hungry people with real safe local food... Agritourism is great in spreading awareness. The spirituality of a local food system with the idea that anyone excluded from access to food is a reflection on the system rather than the individual is an idea I am aligned with. Thanks for all your work in organizing these events. I appreciate them tremendously.
I think it would be worth talking about restaurants who claim they source locally, but then only buy basil a few times and keep the farmers name on their menus. It's got to be extremely hard to make it in the restaurant industry however, there could be some sort of ranking system too that lets the public know just how local their restaurants are.
Overall, fantastic event! Thanks for all your hard work to make this a priority! Johnson County has so much potential to build on an already thriving local food scene.
I would like to see people have the freedom to do anything they like and can afford to do.
I'm very happy that there's a recognition that small (less than 40 ac.) can be viable and profitable.
Let farmers hold events at their farm without renewing every year. Make farm B&B easier.
Let's make it one of our top priorities.
Need to get rid of 40 care rule. For cluster development sell green space and lot to small farmer.
Please sponsor continuing/ more community events.
Thanks to the BOS for their support strengthening our local food system.
Last I checked, farming was the second whitest occupation in America. Historically, when the land was parceled out, it went only to while folks – not to Native Americans or to black former slaves. Diversifying land ownership is a justice issue in America Today.
What provision is being made for people of color to purchase and farm land? Many recent immigrants to the U. S. (from Africa, Asia, and Latin America) were farmers before they came to the U.S. What avenues are open for them to continue farming here? What training is available for farming in this climate – different climate and crops from their homelands – and for them to learn sustainable practices of caring for the land in this context? I know immigrants who want to purchase a small plot (5 acres) will zoning affect their options?
Do you have any comments on the event itself?
Very salient topic--the panel represented several important perspectives. Great job! The food was fabulous. It was so good to see folks after a long winter. Great discussion topics and just a good opportunity for everyone working in the local food economy to meet and catch up, but with some structure to it as well.
I appreciate learning and connecting.... Thank you...
Follow up with more information on what Ag tourism actually means and how is the panel and county really reaching out? Fantastic to see that lots of information was covered and that a lot of folks in this community want the same things.
Great panelists; Could have used more time for the small group discussion. Stimulating and inspiring to see energy focus on this topic and Johnson County ordinance changes.
The local food fair was a great opportunity to learn about the featured businesses. The small group discussion was the best part.
I was waiting for new developments in the panel discussion.