With grain prices stagnant and farm costs soaring, family farms are turning to agritourism to stay afloat.
Lucas Brothers Fall Festival in southwest Ohio draws thousands with hayrides, a corn maze and a barn store, providing essential extra income for the family's 1,500 acres of crops.
Seventy-five percent of farms that added agritourism reported higher incomes, and in 2024 a quarter of participants earned between $25,000 and $99,999 from the ventures.
Nearly half of the farms earned less than $25,000 from agritourism, and increased competition from free community events is squeezing market share.
Despite the challenges, many families view agritourism as a way to preserve their land and connect visitors with rural life.