Donna Fraser doesn’t expect to get rich running a vacation farm.
She and others in the agri-tourism business advise people starting a vacation farm to plan carefully. It often takes three to five years for the venture to begin paying for itself.
“If you have a bed-and-breakfast in the right location, it might take off right away,” said Fraser, who runs her farm with her family near Minto, Man.
“But you have to be prepared for it not to.”
She said it’s best to start small and learn how well the venture fits with a farming operation.
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People visiting the farm, especially for overnight stays, want to experience the rural lifestyle. That often means they will want to visit when the farm is at its busiest.
“I would say it’s a full-time job and more,” said Susan Nicoll, an agri-venture specialist with Manitoba Agriculture.
“It can be a good money maker, but you’re going to have to put a lot into it, a lot of effort.”
Vacation farms are increasing in Manitoba, according to Debbie Basarowich, treasurer for the Manitoba Country Vacations Association. That became evident during the past four years as the need to diversify became more urgent.
“It’s definitely a thing a lot of farmers are looking at. It’s more the smaller farmers looking for a bit of added income.”
Many visitors to vacation farms are from the province or from neighboring provinces and states. Guests come from as far away as Britain, Germany and Japan.
Cater to customers
While visitors want to see how people on a farm live, they don’t want to “rough it,” Nicoll said. Some amenities should be provided.
Visitors staying for a couple of days often want to see other local attractions. It helps to know what those attractions are and the best times to visit them.
Several vacation farms add their own attractions, such as trail rides, petting farms and corn mazes.
As with most tourists, guests may have an interest in souvenirs, something they can take with them to remember the experience.
But their greatest interest is usually the farm and the people who live there. To succeed with a vacation farm, it helps to be a “people person,” Nicoll said.
For Fraser, an added bonus is the people she meets who have become friends of the family.
“We haven’t had anybody here that I wouldn’t want back.”
– Bell
