UPDATED MARCH 2021 In January 2018, the Minnesota Department of Health launched Safer Farm Animal Contact Exhibits (Safer FACEs), a training program for
KEEPING FARM VISITORS SAFE AND HEALTHY
Agritourism involves activities that bring visitors to the farm. It is growing in popularity across the nation.
It can be a great way for farmers to add supplemental income but it does come with an additional set of responsibilities. The growth of agritourism is connecting more and more people directly with agriculture and allowing them to better understand where their food comes from. With that comes the opportunity for them to learn about the health and safety issues related to agriculture, including protecting themselves.
Protecting the safety of farm visitors is important for both the visitors and for farms hosting these events.
HANDWASHING POSTERS
Ensuring proper handwashing is an important and effective way to prevent the spread of illness.
UMASH has created FREE handwashing posters that you can download and display at handwashing stations at your farm or agritourism event. A standard version and a COVID-19 version with social distancing guidelines are available. Posters are in pdf format, and available in English and Spanish.
Available in 19 languages!
The North Star Farm Tour translated the UMASH handwashing poster into 19 languages, and developed a health and safety toolkit with posters, videos, instructions, and plans for a user-friendly DIY handwashing station.
DIY HANDWASHING STATION MATERIALS
North Star Farm Tour Handwashing Station Instructions, Video and Resources
In 2019, the North Star Farm Tour designed a user-friendly handwashing station, and developed a toolkit to help farm and fair owners and operators promote health and safety through proper handwashing.
DIY Handwashing Station Video
NORTH STAR FARMS HANDWASHING VIDEO
Hand Washing Makes for Safe Farm Visits
We’ve heard a lot about hand washing lately because it’s the first line of defense against germs. As featured on FarmHer, North Star Farm Tour shares how a new contraption makes farm visits safe for everyone!
Click through the tabs below to view our printable and digital resources and training materials for agritourism.
View the videos directly on our site by clicking on them below, or download the video by right-clicking the “Download mp4” link below the video and saving the file.
Animal Agritourism: Lay out a Plan for Success
Release Date: August 4, 2017
Download mp4 (right click and save file)
Farms, Fairs, and Fun – Be sure to wash your hands
Release Date: August 11, 2016
Download mp4 (right click and save file)
Agritourism: Prepare and Plan for Guests on Your Farm
Release Date: November 1, 2016
Download mp4 (right click and save file)
Keep Food Safe – 4H Food Stand Worker Training
Release Date: February 16, 2019
Download mp4 (right click and save file)
6 Tips for Biosecurity – A Guide for Youth Livestock Exhibitors
Release Date: February 16, 2019
Download mp4 (right click and save file)
Animal Agritourism: Lay out a Plan for Success
Release Date: August 4, 2017
Download mp4 (right click and save file)
Farms, Fairs, and Fun – Be sure to wash your hands
Release Date: August 11, 2016
Download mp4 (right click and save file)
Agritourism: Prepare and Plan for Guests on Your Farm
Release Date: November 1, 2016
Download mp4 (right click and save file)
Keep Food Safe – 4H Food Stand Worker Training
Release Date: February 16, 2019
Download mp4 (right click and save file)
6 Tips for Biosecurity – A Guide for Youth Livestock Exhibitors
Release Date: February 16, 2019
Download mp4 (right click and save file)
Safer Farm Animal Contact Exhibits
DO YOU…
Own a farm that hosts visitors? Participate in a local, county, or state fair? Own or operate a petting zoo, pumpkin patch, orchard, or other venue with animals?
The Safer Farm Animal Contact Exhibits (Safer FACEs) training program can help you understand the risks of illness and injury from farm animals, and how to protect your visitors. This free online training program is offered by the Minnesota Department of Health. Upon completion, MDH will provide certification that your organization has learned best practices for visitor-animal interactions.
Topics covered include: overview of health risks from animals, facility design, animal care and management, staff training, visitor education, signage and handwashing.
LEARN MORE AT www.health.state.mn.us/saferfaces
Funding for Safer FACEs is provided by the Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center (UMASH) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC), cooperative agreement 5 U38 OT000143 and a joint organizational partnership between the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) and CDC.
Fun on the Farm Agritourism Workshop
Topics include:
- Best practices for human-animal contact
- Working farm safety issues
- Food licensing and safe food handling
These trainings are designed for farm owners, employees, and youth volunteers.
If you are interested in hosting a workshop, please contact Carrie Klumb at the Minnesota Department of Health: 651-201-5414 or carrie.klumb@state.mn.us
Agritourism: The Next Frontier in Agriculture
Agritourism can be a great way to add supplemental income to your farm but it does come with an additional set of responsibilities. If you are currently running an agritourism operation or are thinking about making this an addition to your farm, you should become familiar with the Compendium of Measures to Prevent Disease Associated with Animals in Public Settings. Following the guidelines outlined in the Compendium will help you make your farm as safe as possible for visitors and protect your assets.
At the end of the webinar, participants will be able to:
- Understand what zoonotic diseases are, how they are transmitted, and why they are a potential problem for your farm.
- Be aware of the national best practices outlined in the Compendium and available resources to help you follow these guidelines.
- Apply these best practices to your farm in order to reduce the risk of illness or injury to visitors.
- Understand that the risk will never be zero.
VIEW RECORDED WEBINARS
FEATURED RESOURCE
Safer Farm Animal Contact Exhibits (Safer FACEs)
Own a farm that hosts visitors? Participate in a local, county, or state fair? Own or operate a petting zoo, pumpkin patch, orchard, or other venue with animals?
The Safer Farm Animal Contact Exhibits (Safer FACEs) training program can help you understand the risks of illness and injury from farm animals, and how to protect your visitors. This free online training program is offered by the Minnesota Department of Health. Upon completion, MDH will provide certification that your organization has learned best practices for visitor-animal interactions.
LEARN MORE AT www.health.state.mn.us/saferfaces
OTHER RESOURCES
COVID-19 AND AGRITOURISM
Agritourism Guidance Document
All farm businesses must follow the
Stay Safe MN Guidance for Businesses and Organizations
provided by the Minnesota Department of Labor and
Industry and are required to have established and
implemented a COVID-19 Preparedness Plan.
Can COVID-19 infect my herd, flock, or pets?
According to the CDC, humans seem more likely to give COVID-19 to animals than vice versa. A limited number of animals in the United States have been infected with COVID-19.
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/one_health/downloads/sars-cov2-in-animals.pdf
If you are sick, restrict contact with pets just as you would around other people. It is suggested that people with COVID-19 limit contact around all animals until more information is known about the virus and the susceptibility of various animals to the virus.
At this time, it appears that livestock or poultry are unlikely to get SARS-CoV-2 infection nor transmit the virus to humans.
COVID-19 in animals that have been confirmed by USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories.
SAFE AGRITOURISM CAMPAIGN AND SOCIAL MEDIA TOOLKIT
Spring into Safe Agritourism
2019 Agritourism Campaign
#SafeAgritourism #SaferFACEs
The “Spring into Safe Agritourism” 2019 campaign may have ended, but you can share and promote safe agritourism ANY time of the year!
A HUGE ASSET. Great information, well worth the time.
[Handwashing posters] They look good are simple and easy and quick to read. I like them.
The training is great. What I really like about this training is that it is something I can have all my volunteers do.
I really enjoyed the course. It was easy, visual, and didn’t take much time to complete. I felt like what I learned was valuable. I liked how key points were addressed multiple times to reinforce that knowledge such as calves being a high-risk animal for young children, etc.
The topics were informative and I feel we will be better prepared for our county fair.
MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CONTACT INFORMATION:
If you have specific questions about hosting an agritourism event on your farm, contact:
Carrie Klumb, Minnesota Department of Health
carrie.klumb@state.mn.us
651-201-5414 or 1-877-676-5414
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