2024 | Stephan Goetz, Claudia Schmidt, and Sarah Cornelisse

Research Lead

Stephan Goet, Professor of Agricultural and Regional Economics
Director of The Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development

Extension Lead

Claudia Schmidt, Assistant Professor of Marketing and Local/Regional Food Systems

Sarah Cornelisse, Senior Extension Program Specialist

This integrated team addresses the untapped potential of agritourism and direct-to-consumer sales. Despite their benefits, only a small percentage of American farms engage in these activities. The team's research has shown that many support organizations are unaware of what agritourism is, the challenges operators face, and how best to support them. Their goal is to change this.

The significance of their work cannot be overstated. Agritourism development boosts farm profitability, keeps agricultural land in use, and benefits the wider community through visitor spending and local development. It also educates consumers about agriculture and food origins, offering human capital benefits. Compared to traditional commodities, agritourism is a newer area for Extension with the first grant funding agritourism work only 20 years ago.

The Agritourism Team formed when Claudia Schmidt joined Penn State with a dual appointment in extension and research. Stephan Goetz sparked her interest in agritourism research, and Sarah Cornelisse supported the development of an integrated, research-based approach to agritourism outreach. Their collaboration since has been organic and effective, with each bringing unique strengths and complementary expertise.

Innovative strategies and tools have been key to their success. In 2018, they conducted a needs assessment of agritourism operators in Pennsylvania, which informed grant proposals and the development of Extension materials. They secured a $498,000 USDA NIFA AFRI grant to investigate barriers to agritourism expansion and the support ecosystem for agritourism operators. Their work has led to comprehensive agritourism factsheets for all 50 states.

The team has also engaged stakeholders in innovative ways. They found significant interactions between agritourism and women-owned operations, leading to targeted outreach work. A 2020 project addressed the unique needs of women farmers in agritourism, resulting in a popular video series on risk management. They have organized the Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention Agritourism Session since 2019, receiving direct input from operators to develop their outreach program.

In conclusion, Claudia Schmidt, Stephan Goetz, and Sarah Cornelisse exemplify the integration of research and extension, significantly contributing to agritourism.