April 24-25, 2025

Canaan Valley Resort State Park

Davis, West Virginia

The 2025 West Virginia Agritourism Conference will bring together agritourism stakeholders, including operators, educators and related businesses, to share current initiatives and industry developments, gain practical tools to start or expand an agritourism business, and develop strategic partnerships for the future of agritourism in West Virginia. The event will feature expert panels, educational sessions, inspiring agritourism tours, networking opportunities, and a wide variety of industry-focused exhibitors and vendors. 

Register Now   View Agenda

Who Should Attend 

Many stakeholders are critical to the success of agritourism, including food, fiber and forestry producers and value-added businesses, state and local governments, destination marketing organizations and tourism professionals, and economic development professionals. If you are interested in helping to grow the Agritourism Sector in West Virginia, then this conference is for you! 

Why You Should Attend 

This is the event to learn together and get inspired as we work to share ideas and best practices about connecting our local communities and visitors to agricultural assets. The Conference will provide insight to strengthen each stakeholder’s role in contributing to a vibrant agritourism industry.

Vendors (20 spots available): Set Up – April 24th 3:00 – 5:00pm: Contact Madison Gillispie with questions - mgillispie@wvda.us or 304-558-2210.

Conference Questions

Dee Singh-Knights, 304-293-7606 or dosingh-knights@mail.wvu.edu; Robert Burns, 304 434 8000 ext. 9233 or robert.burns@easternwv.edu; or Maggie Blakenship, 304-558-2210 or mblankenship@wvda.us.  

Registration

$30 for the conference only (April 25), $30 for vendor registration, or $45 for conference/vendor and tour (price does not include lodging). 

Register Now

Lodging

To secure your lodging for the night of April 24, please contact Canaan Valley Resort at 800-622-4121.

Questions?

• Dee Singh-Knights – 304-293-7606 or dosingh-knights@mail.wvu.edu
• Robert Burns – 304 434 8000 ext. 9233 or robert.burns@easternwv.edu 
• Maggie Blankenship – 304-558-2210 or mblankenship@wvda.us

Thursday, April 24

Noon – 5:45 p.m. -  Agritourism Tours – Canaan Valley Region

6 – 6:45 p.m. -  Dinner

7 – 8 p.m. -  Keynote Address: Agritourism as an Ambassador for Agriculture – Mike Costello, Lost Creek Farm

Friday, April 25

7:30 a.m. -  Registration

8 a.m. -   Networking Breakfast

9 a.m. -  Welcome Messages

9:50 – 10:50 a.m. - Breakout Session 1

Marketing and Storytelling Track:
Brand Matters
Building a solid reputation and repeat visitors through brand recognition, whether you are working alone or as part of an alliance.

Order Up
Streamlining your concession stands, from regulatory compliance to smooth lines, good food and smiling customers.

Business Hot Topics Track:
Getting Agritourism Ready - The FUN Stuff
Building a strong agritourism operation by fitting the business jigsaw puzzle together.

Farm-Based Education Track:
Straight from the Holler
Incorporating Appalachian culture, heritage and storytelling to heighten your agritourism offerings.

11 a.m. – Noon - Breakout Session 2

Marketing and Storytelling Track:
Beating the Algorithm
Standing out from the crowd on social media and staying atop of your followers’ feeds.

Food and Beverage Track:
Cheers with Caution
Elevating your visitor experience with alcohol; understanding the legalities, the do's and the don’ts.   

Business Hot Topics Track:
Stop, Collaborate and Listen
Strengthening regional collaboration to attract customers through farm crawls and agritourism trails.

Farm-Based Education Track:
Blooming Business
Learning the tips and tricks of flower farming, season extension, scaling-up and growing a culture of education.

Noon - Lunch

12:50 –2 p.m. - Keynote Address: Lessons Learned from Both Sides of the Fence – Rob Leeds OSU Agritourism and Leeds Farm.

2 p.m. - Networking

2:20 – 3:20 p.m. - Breakout Session 3

Marketing and Storytelling Track:
The Customer is (Almost) Always Right
Offering five-star customer service and hospitality on a shoe-string budget. 

Food and Beverage Track:
Farm Fresh and Fabulous
Offering cool and trendy food and drink options to make your agritourism operation a destination and not just a farm visit.

Business Hot Topics Track:
Living WITH the Law
Understanding the legal side of agritourism to protect your assets and ensure the safety of your guests.

Farm-Based Education Track:
Promoting the Birds, the Bees and the Forests 
Using your natural resources to connect visitors to their food and their environment.

3:30 – 4:30 p.m. - Breakout Session 4

Marketing and Storytelling Track:
Picture Perfect
Adding value to your products offerings: labelling, packaging, and product testing compliance.

Food and Beverage Track:
Label It, Test It, Sell It
Elevating your visitor experience with alcohol; understanding the legalities, the do's and the don’ts.   

Business Hot Topics Track:
Safety First
Ensuring a memorable guest experience through safety and emergency planning in agritourism.

Farm-Based Education Track:
Thinking Outside the Box by Staying on the Farm
Innovating creative ideas to offer an authentic rural experience using available assets.

4:40 p.m. -  Closing and Awards

5 p.m. - Social Hour

*Schedule is subject to change.

WVU is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer -- Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran.
In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, and reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs).
The WVU Board of Governors is the governing body of WVU. The Higher Education Policy Commission in West Virginia is responsible for developing, establishing, and overseeing the implementation of a public policy agenda for the state’s four-year colleges and universities.
Reasonable accommodations will be made to provide this content in alternate formats upon request. Contact the WVU Extension Service Office of Communications at 304-293-4222.