"Agritainment:" Not Just Fun on the Farm
A new trend in the American agriculture industry is to include entertainment endeavors on the farm, or, in other words, "Agritainment."
Agritainment is becoming extremely popular among farmers in the United States and Canada. It is not just fun and something to do after harvest, but a profitable new farm business model. Last fall, Jim Halbeisen, John Sensenig, and I visited one of John's most dynamic Growers Mineral customers in Mexico, New York. Randy Granger owns and operates the Granger Tree Farm. He primarily grows pumpkins, blueberries, and Christmas trees, but also has a farm playground.
Every weekend in the fall, Randy opens his farm up to the public of all ages for fun and activities. He has all sorts of activities: Pick-your-pumpkin, a haunted corn maze, feed the sheep, choose your Christmas tree, and a wonderful playground along with great food and beverages. He sells over 10,000 pumpkins, hundreds of Christmas trees, and countless food and drinks. He has turned his tree farm into a weekend destination.
Randy has been a successful Growers Mineral customer for several years. He starts his Christmas trees in containers for two years prior to transplanting to the field, utilizing Growers Mineral throughout the process. His Christmas trees-the best in the county-are full and picture perfect, and an integral part of his core farm business. Randy's agritainment venue provides an additional opportunity to sell his trees at a premium.
Along with the core Christmas tree business, Randy grows exceptional pumpkins: large, with thick stems, and all the rage at the pick-your-pumpkin field. He lines up the 10,000+ picked pumpkins in a large, mowed field alongside the haunted corn maze and playground. What a scene it is to see hundreds of kids trying to find their perfect pumpkin!
Turning a profit in farming has become increasingly difficult with input, equipment, seed, fuel, and labor costs skyrocketing in the last few years. Farmers are looking for other ways to generate a positive return on investment (ROI). Agritainment has opened the door for many farmers to increase farm revenues and profits along with having fun!
So, if you are in upstate New York in the fall, stop by the Granger Tree Farm for a warm beverage and your Halloween pumpkin, and do not forget to choose your Christmas tree and wander the haunted corn maze. Enjoy!
This is an excerpt from the Summer Growers Solution (2023) written by Chris Kohls, National Sales Manager.
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