Keeping agritourism safe this fall

Biosecurity and public health guidance for on-farm events

As fall approaches and farms prepare to welcome the public for seasonal celebrations such as fairs, harvest festivals, and apple picking, health and safety remain a top priority. University of Minnesota Extension has updated biosecurity and public health guidelines to ensure that on-farm programs, whether educational or for entertainment, continue to thrive while protecting people, animals, and farms.

These protocols are more than good practice; they’re essential. By reducing the risk of disease spread between humans and animals, they safeguard animal health, uphold public confidence in agricultural spaces, and reflect the host’s commitment to science-based risk management.

Whether you’re planning an interactive petting zoo or a morning of animals sprinkled into a yoga practice, here’s what to keep in mind:

Separate public and animal production or living areas

• Maintain a distance of at least 30 feet and ideally 50 feet or more between visitors and animal housing.
• Clearly mark and enforce a line of separation between where animals live and where guests are allowed to roam. This might include an additional fence gate, cones, or an entryway with signage that reads, “You’re entering an animal zone.”
• Designate meal and activity areas in clean, dry spaces well away from livestock zones. Mud, manure, and feed residue should be kept out of public sight.

Design tours for safety and education

• Market your event as an educational experience, rather than a standard farm tour.
• Use alternatives like “windshield tours,” virtual GoPro walk-throughs, or barn tours via wagon, where participants remain on board, to minimize exposure to production zones.
• If feasible, bring animals to a separate display area rather than leading guests into barns or pastures.
• In cases where foot traffic must overlap with farm operations, provide boot covers or sanitize footwear before and after entry.

Engage minds while promoting safety

• Use the event as an opportunity to raise awareness about biosecurity; explain why animal health matters and how humans can contribute to it.
• Post signs or share brief presentations about how these precautions protect both animals and humans.
• Encourage visitors to arrive in freshly laundered clothes and clean footwear, especially if they’ve been on other farms recently.

Invest in hygiene and infrastructure

• Provide ample hand washing stations that are conveniently placed and well-stocked, allowing guests to clean up regularly during their visit.
• Ensure all enclosed public areas have good ventilation.
• Encourage all staff, volunteers, and attendees to stick to the “clean clothes, clean shoes” mantra.

By proactively planning around these guidelines, you’re not only keeping your farm and visitors safe, but you’re also demonstrating leadership in agricultural education and community health.

Let’s make fall 2025 both memorable and mindful.