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SPOTLIGHT: Upcoming Agritourism Workshop Planned

SPOTLIGHT: Upcoming Agritourism Workshop Planned

MAY 2019

May 16 workshop in Farmington, MN offers health and safety information for agritourism operators.

Beth Cleary and Carrie Klumb
Minnesota Department of Health

A Fun on the Farm: Agritourism Workshop will be held May 16th in Farmington, MN. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and Department of Agriculture (MDA) have joined to host the workshop from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at the Dakota County Extension and Conservation in Farmington, MN, courtesy of Minnesota 4-H. Agritourism operators throughout the state are encouraged to attend this free workshop.

More and more agritourism operations are popping up around the state. Our Fun on the Farm: Agritourism Workshop was developed to provide agritourism operators with the information they need to know in order to ensure their visitors remain safe and healthy when visiting their venue.

Carrie Klumb, Epidemiologist
Minnesota Department of Health

Participants will hear from a panel of experts about best practices for human-animal contact, working farm safety issues, food licensing, and safe food handling. Free posters, fact sheets, handwashing bracelets, and refrigerator thermometers will be available for people to take back to their farm.

“We know venue owners have a lot to worry about as the season begins,” said Klumb, “which is why we’ve partnered with MDA and MDH Environmental health in order to cover all aspects of an agritourism operation from animal safety to food safety.”

This is the fourth year MDH and MDA have hosted these workshops and previous attendees have appreciated the opportunity to learn about human and animal interactions and network with other agritourism operators. One attendee said, “It was exceptional! So nice to have different presenters. Great food.”


Fun on the Farm: Agritourism Workshop

THURSDAY, MAY 16
5:30pm – 8:30pm

Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center
Farmington, Minnesota

Registration is required and potential attendees are encouraged to register soon as space is limited at the event. A complimentary boxed dinner is included for all registered attendees. Farmers, agricultural service providers, tourism professionals and anyone considering hosting visitors at their agricultural enterprise may register online.

Safer FACEs Training

Agritourism operators that cannot attend the workshop, but are interested in learning about keeping visitors safe and healthy around their animals, can access MDH’s FREE online training, Safer Farm Animal Contact Exhibits (Safer FACEs).

This training consists of a text and photo-based slideshow that can be completed at your own pace and can help you, the operator; understand the risks of illness and injuries from farm animals and how to protect your visitors.