News and What’s On across the state (and beyond!)
News and Updates
Find everything newsworthy and noteworthy here. From announcements and events to our quarterly Member Spotlight feature, find it all here.
More exciting updates…
The Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research have published their report “Montana Agritourism in 2024: Opportunities and Challenges in a Changing Landscape”. Download a copy here.
GRANT OPPORTUNITY for New Producers from AgWest Farm Credit One-time opportunity for new producers, grants up to $15,000. Find out more here.
Spotlight on… US!
We are excited to announce that the Montana Agritourism Association has officially been granted 501(c)(3) nonprofit status by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This designation allows the organization to operate as a tax-exempt entity, opening new doors for growth, fundraising, and community impact.
"We are thrilled to achieve 501(c)(3) status, which enables us to further our mission of advancing Montana’s Agritourism industry" said Dr. Shannon Arnold, Professor of Agricultural Education at Montana State University. "This status will help us build stronger partnerships, expand our programs, and make an even greater impact to support farmers, ranchers and producers who want to grow their agritourism businesses in Montana ."
With this new nonprofit status, our Association will be able to accept tax-deductible donations from supporters, apply for grants from a wider pool, and collaborate with other nonprofit organizations to help achieve our goals. The organization is now better positioned to expand its services and increase outreach to those operating in the Agritourism sector across Montana.
The Montana Agritourism Association remains committed to promoting economic diversification and supporting our members to collaborate with other Agritourism operators across the country. Since we started talking about Agritourism in 2017, the organization has worked diligently to provide resources for operators across our state.
“We’re excited about the future,” said Carissa McNamara, Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Montana Agriculture Association. “With this new status, we can continue to grow and make a difference in the lives of ranchers, farmers and producers across our great state of Montana. We look forward to working with our supporters and partners as we expand our impact.”
Agritourism Pre-Conference in Nashville, TN
Agritourism in Action: Exploring Agritourism Opportunities. This is on-site in Nashville, TN. More information here
WEBINAR: Creating a Successful Agritourism Destination
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) recently published a guide on Creating a Successful Agritourism Experience. In this webinar, FAO-EBRD will share the guide and broader efforts in agritourism, offering insights into key projects, methodologies, and real-world applications. Through expert discussions and case studies from Jordan and Georgia, the session will explore the essential elements of a successful agritourism destination. A panel discussion and interactive Q&A will provide an opportunity to engage with global practitioners and experts shaping the future of agritourism.
2025 Montana Governor's Conference on Tourism
Registration closes April 1, 2025. Spots are limited, so plan your registration accordingly.
Expanding Markets Conference
The Rising Tide of Consumer Demand is Propelling Regenerative Agriculture Markets
An increasing number of people are actively seeking out food options that are not only good for the planet but also benefit the well-being of farmers and ranchers, and local communities.
This year’s Expanding Markets Conference will be held September 22nd-24th at the Delta Hotel in Helena, Montana with a ranch tour and two full days of speakers, exhibitors, and networking.
NET Conference in Meredith, NH
Connecting through Tourism Conference - Topics of interest include (but are not limited to):
Visitor demographics, tourism trends, and industry forecasting
Creating inclusive visitor spaces and experiences
Climate resilience and destination recovery
Outdoor recreation development and management
Agritourism and rural tourism development
Destination town vitality and heritage/historic preservation
Montana Outdoor Recreation Summit
Located in historic Butte, the traditional homelands of the Shoshone-Bannock and Séliš & Ktunaxa (Salish & Kootenai) people, and a city rich in heritage and outdoor recreation adventures, the Summit will serve as a gathering place to convene, learn, and create partnerships that will guide solutions to the challenges we face in creating, building, and sustaining Montana’s outdoor recreation experiences. You can expect live panels, dynamic guest speakers, workshops, field tours, a film festival, and so much more.
Montana Agritourism Association 2nd annual conference
Back for our second year, the 2025 Agritourism Conference promises to be another special event - check back for more details and announcements later in the year! This year we’ll be hosted in Bozeman at MSU.
Creating a Beverage Tourism Destination - WEBINAR
This webinar will be presented by Kathy Kelley, Penn State Professor of Horticultural Marketing and Business Management, who will present on trends describing what tasting rooms and related alcoholic beverage venues can implement to attract visitors. Strategies include developing events based on national trend data, partnering with complementary businesses, and customizing experiences based on surveying visitors and loyalty program members. Registration is required, click here to register.
Helena's Longest Table Community Event
Indulge in a locavore guided conversation of Helena’s vibrant food scene at the 2nd Longest Table Event. This community meal (light supper) will feature delicious dishes crafted by local restaurants using fresh, locally sourced ingredients straight from Montana’s farms and ranches.
Hosted by Resilient Helena and Ten Mile Creek Brewery in conjunction with F* Your Phone February, this event isn’t just about food – it’s a gathering to strengthen community bonds and discuss challenges with the local food system.
Participating restaurants: Ten Mile Creek Brewery, The Union, Sunflower Bakery, and The Hopper. Ticket sales go directly to the restaurants and agriculture producers to pay for their time, energy, and food. Menu will include charcuterie, soups, fresh
baked breads and desserts, and a beer or beverage of your choice.
No tickets sold at the door, please purchase ahead of time. Tickets are $35 pp, nonrefundable but can be transferred.
Abundant Montana speaker series
Join Abundant Montana for the first installment of Winter Speaker Series 2025 with The Carbon Capture and Storage Talk hosted by the Northern Plains Resource Council.
CSA Week
CSA Week is taking place from February 16th through February 22nd, 2025! During this special week, we are encouraging farmers and farmer support organizations across the country to come together in promoting CSA, and we want YOU to participate!
In previous years, CSA Day was led by Small Farm Central and it become “the day” when CSA farms collectively promote CSA across the country with unified messaging and urgency for members to sign up. It’s a way for all of us to encourage CSA sign-ups while promoting the CSA movement across the nation. In 2021, the CSA Innovation Network extended the event from one day to an entire week, continued it in 2022, 2023, 2024, and is doing so again in 2025! This will give us more time to build engagement with new and returning CSA members.
Valentine's Day Farm Market
Stop by the Farm for locally made treats and gifts for your Valentine (or yourself…we won’t tell!)!
We will also have lots of great yummies for your Super Bowl parties!
Our new baby lambs will be out for everyone to see during the market too!
Local Vendors + Food & Gifts + Baby Lambs = Pure Love!
Montana Agritourism Conference
at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana. Hosted by the Montana Agritourism Fellows and MSU.
Sponsored by Western SARE, Montana Farmer’s Union, MSU Extension, Montana Department of Commerce, Prospera, Montana Department of Agriculture, Montana Farm Bureau, Food and Ag Development Centers, and Land Trust.