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Farm Tour Safety Plan

A farm tour lets visitors see where food comes from, and it puts people with no farm experience near hazards you stopped noticing years ago.

What should you do before you host a tour?

Walk the route as a visitor would, looking at every step, slope, door, gate and sight line. Ask what could hurt someone who has never been on a farm, and plan to remove, fence off or avoid it.

Check with your insurance agent, your county or town, and your state agriculture or health department about permits, insurance and any rules for visitors. These vary by location, so do not assume.

Think about accessibility too. Visitors may use wheelchairs, strollers or walkers, so look at surfaces, gates and distances, and be honest about what the farm can and cannot offer.

• Walk the route and note hazards
• Close off machinery, storage and chemical areas
• Fix uneven ground and loose boards
• Mark restrooms, hand washing and first aid
• Share the farm address with the emergency contact list

How do you design a safe route?

Keep visitors on a set path away from working equipment, grain storage, manure areas and chemical storage. Use fences, signs and staff to keep people where you want them.

Keep the route clear of traffic. Separate parking from the walking path and make sure someone directs drivers.

Post clear signs at the start of the tour and at any boundary. Use plain wording and symbols so that guests who read quickly or speak another language can follow. Place barriers and signs before guests arrive, not after problems appear.

How do you supervise groups, especially children?

Have enough guides for the group, with a clear head count at the start and the end. Brief visitors on a few key rules before walking: stay with the group, no running, no climbing and no touching animals unless invited.

Children need close supervision. Ask schools and groups to bring enough adult chaperones.

Give each guide a way to communicate, such as a radio or phone, and decide who stays with the group if someone must step away.

• Use a head count at start and finish
• Assign one guide per small group
• Share three simple rules at the start
• Ask groups to bring enough chaperones

How do you handle animal contact and hygiene?

Animals can carry germs that make people sick. Provide hand washing with soap and water close to animal areas, and keep food and drink out of them. Ask your state health department or extension office about hygiene guidance for farm visits.

Choose calm animals, supervise contact and keep young children, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems informed about the health considerations.

Offer a place for visitors to wash up before leaving and before eating. Soap and clean running water are the basics, and your health department can advise on setup.

• Soap and clean running water
• Keep food and drink out of animal areas
• Choose calm animals
• Supervise all contact

What about equipment, wagons and rides?

Do not let guests operate or climb on machines. If you offer wagon or tractor rides, use equipment suited to carrying people, a trained driver and the manufacturer's guidance. Check your state's rules and your insurance coverage.

Keep exits and hitches clear and make sure people stay seated.

Keep fuel, chemicals, tools and keys locked away while guests are on site, and park equipment out of the tour area.

How do you prepare for weather and emergencies?

Check the forecast and have a plan for storms, heat and cold. Know where shelter is and how you will warn the group.

Keep first aid supplies and a trained person on site. Tell visitors the address and your emergency plan. In any serious emergency, call 911.

Share the plan with neighbors and local responders, so they know when guests are on site and how to reach you.

• Check the forecast before each tour
• Know where shelter is
• Keep first aid supplies on site
• Post the farm address

How do you learn from each tour?

Afterward, note what went well and what felt tight. Fix issues before the next group arrives.

The Safe Agritourism checklists and your extension office offer practical templates, and Penn State Extension has agritourism safety resources.

Keep a record of dates, group sizes and any incidents. It helps with planning and with conversations with your insurance agent.

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