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Agritourism Safety Planning

Agritourism invites the public onto a working farm. Visitors do not know the hazards, so the planning falls on the host.

What makes agritourism different from ordinary farm work?

On a working farm, everyone who is present has some idea of what is dangerous. Visitors do not. They may wear the wrong shoes, wander away from the group or let children climb on things that were never made for climbing.

That shifts the duty of safety onto the host. The goal of planning is to remove or separate hazards, tell people what to do, and have help ready when something goes wrong.

Think about the whole visit, from the moment a car turns into the driveway to the moment it leaves. Hazards can show up in the lane, the parking area, the restroom and the gift table as easily as in the barn.

How do you start with a hazard walk-through?

Walk the entire visitor area slowly, ideally with someone who has never been on your farm. Look at ground surfaces, steps, gates, water, animals, machinery, electrical equipment and storage. Take notes and photos.

Rank what you find by how likely and how serious the harm could be, then decide whether to fix it, fence it, supervise it or close it. Safe Agritourism and Penn State Extension offer checklists to guide the walk.

• Uneven ground, steps and ramps
• Water, ponds and ditches
• Animals and animal contact areas
• Machinery, tools and storage
• Parking, roads and crossings

What visitor rules and signs should you use?

Keep rules short and clear. Post them at the entrance and repeat them by voice at the start of each activity. Cover staying on paths, supervising children, washing hands and staying out of restricted areas.

Use barriers and signs that match the hazard, and do not rely on signs alone. A fence or a staff member works better than a sentence on a board.

Update signs and rules for the season. A pumpkin patch in October has different hazards from a strawberry field in June.

How should you train staff and volunteers?

Everyone who helps with visitors should know the plan, the emergency steps and their own limits. Give each person a clear role, practice the plan before opening day and review it when the crew changes.

Include first aid and CPR training from a recognized provider such as the American Red Cross, and make sure someone trained is present whenever guests are.

Write down each role, from greeter to parking attendant to animal area monitor, so people know exactly what they are responsible for.

• Greeter and head counter
• Parking and traffic
• Animal area monitor
• First aid lead
• Event lead with the emergency plan

What should you check about insurance, permits and local rules?

Requirements for agritourism differ by state, county and town. They may cover zoning, food, parking, signs, health and liability. Do not assume what applies to you.

Talk with your insurance agent about coverage for visitors, and ask your county or town office, state department of agriculture and your extension office what permits and rules apply. Ask a lawyer for legal questions.

Keep copies of agreements, permits and insurance papers in one folder, and review them each year because activities and rules change.

• Insurance agent for visitor coverage
• County or town for zoning and permits
• State agriculture or health department
• Extension office for planning help

How do you prepare for emergencies?

Write a one-page emergency plan with the farm address, the nearest hospital, emergency contacts and a map of access roads. Keep first aid kits where staff can reach them quickly.

Decide how you will stop activities, move people to shelter and communicate with the group. In any serious emergency, call 911. Invite local fire and rescue to visit before the season.

Practice the plan with staff. A short walk-through of a lost child, a minor injury and a storm warning teaches more than a page of instructions.

How do you keep improving?

Keep a log of incidents and near misses, and review it with your team at the end of each season. Ask visitors what felt unsafe or confusing.

Update your plan whenever you add a new activity, animal or piece of equipment, because each addition brings its own hazards.

Consider outside help. Your extension office, a safety trainer or a neighboring agritourism operator may be willing to walk the farm with you and point out things you no longer see.

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