VIDEO: Ag-Tourism is on The Rise in Mississippi

GOLDEN TRIANGLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Another Fall season is upon us, and for farmers that means it’s time to bring in the harvest.

For some, it also means setting up for one of the state’s fastest growing markets, agri-tourism.

Country Pumpkins in Caledonia just recently joined the Mississippi Agritourism in the summer.

Their pumpkin patch and playground is only open for seven weeks in the Fall, but the income it brings in benefits the owners and the area.

Farmers across the state are switching from harvests to hayrides.

The change in scenery is set to bring in millions for the state.

“Fall is going to be a peak time for agri-tourism in Mississippi because it’s just a great time of year to get outside in our state, but you’re also going to see reflections of the economy and how it affects the tourism industry,” said local economist, Rachael Carter.

Agri-tourism has only been a part of the state’s ag department for a little over ten years.

The actual businesses like Country Pumpkins have been around longer.

“We started the pumpkin patch back in 2000 as a roadside stand, and over the last 17-18 years it’s just evolved into an agri-tourism business,” said owner, Jean Colson.

Colson sees the educational benefit of having an attraction on her family’s land.

“Children in the area, we discovered don’t know a lot about the farm. It’s something that so many people are not able to enjoy, and so it gives us a lot of satisfaction to share and to welcome the community to the farm every year,” said Colson.

The increase in crowd size requires the state to come in and lend a hand.

“To limit that liability, our state has a law called the Agri-Tourism Limited Liability Act, and actually what that does is kind of help farmer have people on their property,” said Carter.

There’s also the economic impact these sites brings.

“One thing, it gives our farmers a chance to diversity their income and keep their land in production. Farmers were looking for different ways to use their farm, maybe when they weren’t in high production season,” continued Carter.

For Colson and her husband, Country Pumpkins now accounts for over 50% of their income.

“It seemed just overnight. We looked out the window and there were so many people that we had to come outside and start taking care of the crowds. They were asking for birthday parties and asking for campfires and school groups wanted to come,” said Colson.

Agri-Tourism rakes in over 150 million dollars every year, and it’s still rising like the great pumpkin.