Backroad Barnyard Business Plan

Authors: Holly Niefergold, Mahla Zare, Ian Keberle

SUNY Campus: SUNY Cobleskill

Presentation Type: Poster

Location: Old Union Hall

Presentation #: 18

Timeslot: Session D 3:00-4:00 PM

Abstract: This agritourism attraction, owned and operated by a local farming family, seeks to foster a deeper connection between people and agriculture through hands-on learning experiences. With a focus on education, sustainability, and community engagement, the farm offers visitors an immersive opportunity to understand the practices behind food production while exploring rural life. The central research question guiding this project is: How can agritourism create meaningful educational experiences that connect the public to agriculture and sustainability? The objective of this agritourism venture is to provide an interactive platform for learning about farming, sustainability, and the role of agriculture in everyday life. Through hands-on activities such as livestock care, crop harvesting, farm tours, and workshops, visitors engage with the land and learn the importance of responsible farming practices. The main objective of this research is to understand the market feasibility of this business idea by collecting secondary data on target market, market size, potential and trends, estimating the size of the market, and conducting competitive analysis.