BLANCHARDVILLE (Wisconsin), Feb 9 — On a quiet dirt road in rural Wisconsin, Brit Thompson’s Pink River Ranch is home to Highland cattle, Icelandic sheep, and a vintage Airstream trailer, now an Airbnb rental attracting urban visitors eager for a countryside escape.
BLANCHARDVILLE (Wisconsin), Feb 9 — On a quiet dirt road in rural Wisconsin, Brit Thompson’s Pink River Ranch is home to Highland cattle, Icelandic sheep, and a vintage Airstream trailer, now an Airbnb rental attracting urban visitors eager for a countryside escape.
With farm incomes declining, Thompson is among many farmers turning to the US$4.5 billion (RM20 billion) agritourism industry, offering overnight stays and farm experiences to supplement earnings. Her guests, mainly Chicago-area professionals, provide a steady income, helping her navigate the unstable agricultural economy.
The shift comes as corn and soy prices hit four-year lows in 2024, making it harder for traditional farms to remain profitable. Revenue from Thompson’s Airbnb now far exceeds what she earns from selling beef and lamb, while her farm’s free-roaming cats have grown accustomed to the steady stream of visitors.
Agritourism surged during Covid-19, as city dwellers sought open spaces. Even after restrictions lifted, demand for farm stays, pumpkin patches, and corn mazes remained strong. According to the International Agritourism Association, about 7% of US farms now offer tourism-related services, with some earning an additional US$25,000 to US$1 million per year.
Beyond financial benefits, farmers say agritourism helps them maintain family farms, pay off debt, and attract younger generations, who are drawn to Airbnb rentals and digital marketing rather than traditional crop management.
“You can’t survive as a family farm by just farming,” said Catherine Topel, a North Carolina hog farmer, who now hosts Airbnb cabins and campsites. “Diversifying makes us resilient in tough times.”
For Thompson, 33, agritourism is not just about income—it’s about teaching visitors about sustainable farming while enjoying moments with her five-year-old daughter, who loves fishing from their riverbank with her hot-pink rod. — Reuters
Farmer Brit Thompson's vintage Airstream camper, repurposed as an Airbnb rental to cater to the surge of city dwellers and suburbanites seeking rural getaways, is pictured at Pink River Ranch in Blanchardville, Wisconsin, in May 2024. — Honest Mom Photography handout via Reuters
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