Solving labor challenges in agritourism

Agritourism farmer perspectives 

Agritourism businesses face very specific labor challenges. The labor required is intense, but lasts just five to seven weeks a year when businesses are open and customers are lining up. When labor is in strong demand, attracting seasonal work can be difficult, especially when profit margins are small — it’s difficult to offer competitive wages.

Ideally, family agritourism farms can provide their own labor, utilizing family and friends, but there are limitations. Family members often can’t take time off from their other jobs that "pay the bills" to work full-time on the farm during the busy season. Also, family demands, such as caretaking for children or the elderly, may draw family workers away.

Agritourism requires conscientious workers to ensure safety measures are in place and enforced, and that crowd control is managed capably.

Creative business solutions

We interviewed four agritourism businesses in 2024, focusing on management decisions that they had helped their businesses survive and thrive. Labor issues were paramount in their minds. We found that each of them had found creative solutions. Many of these solutions were intertwined with the farm’s commitment to community service and collaboration.

Collaboration with community and youth groups, neighbors and friends, and family is a key factor in solving labor problems in agritourism. As farmers told their stories, the benefits of the relationships they’d built were clear. These relationships increased the availability of labor, especially by providing experiences and education in exchange for labor.

The vignettes below illustrate how agritourism businesses took four different approaches to managing labor challenges.

1. Create mutually beneficial community partnerships

Use local student groups

At Rockford Maple Farm in Wadena County, Les Schwartz has to tap about 400 trees a year, which involves drilling into the tree and inserting a spout into the hole until sap flows. “Usually, it’s just myself, a couple brothers, and a couple cousins. For me to do most of the tapping myself, it takes a long time,” he says.

For 15 years, a local 10th-grade biology class has brought 30 students out. They tap the trees in roughly an hour. Les provides all of the equipment, of course, and all of the education. The students walk away with a full understanding of the process of making maple syrup.

Rotate a collection of workers

The Kavan Family Christmas Tree Farm needs employees to cut trees, carry trees, strap trees to vehicles, and manage some of the experiences offered during the Christmas season. While some of their labor operates throughout the season, Steve also manages a rotation of people who are willing to work just a weekend or two during the year. This collection of workers’ names provides a nimble approach to staffing and increases community involvement and word-of-mouth about the farm.

Pike’s Corn Maze in Park Rapids, Minnesota: Like the Kavan Christmas Tree Farm, Pike's Corn Maze manages a collection of workers who provide staffing on a rotating basis. In addition, the local FFA (Future Farmers of America) chapter provided a key piece of labor in pumpkin harvesting in 2024. “The FFA came out with I don’t know how many kids and put (the pumpkins) on wagons and unloaded them in the shed.” The Pikes’ made a donation to the FFA chapter in exchange. Moreover, some local kids are selected to support planting. “You hire seven to eight kids to help you, and if the ground is ready, it takes four hours maximum.”

Help from the public/visitors

First Fruit Blueberry Farm, Menahga, Minnesota: Debbie has a number of creative ways to get labor for berry picking. This became a particularly big issue in 2024 when there was a bumper crop. Her invitations to the public include farm experiences where they may pick blueberries and take them home. One experience allows the public to pick a total of three baskets of berries, provide two for the farm for sale, and take one home.

2. Make strategic labor investments

Besides determining who will be working on the farm and what they’ll be doing, owners need to figure out the best use of their own time, and the best use of the time of key workers with more experience.

For example, the Kavan Christmas Tree Farm has a rotation of workers coming in and out throughout the year, but Steve has decided to be very particular about who gets to cut and bale trees. “I need someone who is the most safe, knowledgeable, and competent. Just because there are risks I don’t want to take," he says.

Similarly, at Pikes Corn Maze, Jay insists on being the driver for most of the hay rides. He takes responsibility for the safety of the riders, is vigilant about behaviors on the flatbed, and drives slowly. The importance of safety for hay rides is paramount in his mind, and he finds it is worth his own time to protect his farm from liability.

However, when it comes to harvesting pumpkins, he invests in workers and donations to youth groups for this time-consuming task. This assures he and his family have time for other key management tasks.

3. Consider other labor solutions

Family and friends

Rockford Maple Farm taps into family ties to provide labor, including retired brothers and cousins. Kavan Christmas Tree Farm also involves the family in whatever way they can.

Entry-level, seasonal and part-time workforce

Each of the businesses embraces agritourism for its entry-level and part-time employment opportunities. The summertime nature of the work allows teenagers to become part of the rotation of workers as well.

Workshare programs

This was not mentioned in the interviews, but through agritourism networks, we’ve seen workshare programs as a labor solution. Workshare programs are a way for community members to work on the farm and learn about farming. In exchange for hours of work, they receive food or other farm products. Typically, workshare volunteers commit to a certain number of hours during busy seasons.