Visit Lebanon Valley
Agritourism is where agriculture and tourism meet to provide an entertaining or educational experience, and its popularity is increasing. Hashtags such as #farmlife, #farmersmarket, and #farmtotable describe millions of posts across all social media platforms. But what exactly is the appeal?
“People want to do more than lay on a beach for a week. They want to learn and explore,” says Jennifer Kuzo, President of Visit Lebanon Valley. “We crave new experiences more than more stuff. Adventures are good for the soul and help to make lasting memories with friends and family.”
And the evidence is growing as visitors flock to places like Patches Family Creamery, offering farm-fresh milk and homemade ice cream, as well as Batz Farm with their baby goat snuggles and picnics in the pasture.
Kim Batz, owner of Batz Farm states, “People of every age really enjoy their experience with our baby goats! Unique to our area, the comment we hear most is how snuggling baby goats is so therapeutic. What began as a fundraiser blossomed into a full agritourism business to now include picnics in our pasture, goat yoga, and even an on-farm farmer’s market! We enjoy educating people about the farm and farm life.”
These Instagrammable, picture-perfect experiences are very appealing – families wandering through gardens, enjoying a petting farm, and picking the freshest produce available straight from the field or orchard. People want beautiful and memorable experiences.
All it takes is a quiet drive through the farmlands and rolling hills of Lebanon County to understand the appeal. Agritourism operations of all sizes exist throughout the Lebanon Valley and in every season, including:
- pumpkin picking patches
- corn mazes
- u-pick farms
- petting and feeding zoos
- hayrides
- cut-your-own Christmas tree farms
- living history farms
- on-farm farmers’ markets
- rural bed & breakfasts
- garden tours
The many orchards, roadside stands, corn mazes, and family-owned dairy, beef, and poultry farms add to the health and well-being of our community. We recognize our farmers and the importance of agriculture in our county and how it leads to living a healthy life.
Nothing exhibits this more than the Lebanon Area Fair – a wildly popular annual event held at the Lebanon Valley Expo Center featuring our future farmers and their livestock, a rodeo, live music and entertainment, carnival rides, family activities, and the best fair food around.
This year the Lebanon Area Fair runs July 23-30. Visit Lebanon Valley will be on-site to share activities and itineraries for exploring the great outdoors to well-preserved historical architecture and attractions to antiquing and appreciating our agricultural roots. Meet our favorite mascot and cow, Lebanon Lilly, and read about her adventures throughout the Lebanon Valley in her children’s book, “The Adventures of Lebanon Lilly.”
While Agritourism continues to flourish everywhere; in the Lebanon Valley – it’s just our way of life!
Visit Lebanon Valley is the officially designated Destination Marketing Organization for Lebanon County. For more to explore, go to VisitLebanonValley.com.
Author: Amaury Abreu
