Agritourism & Farm Events

Open the Gate. Welcome the World.

Agritourism & Farm Events is where agriculture meets hospitality — teaching students to design meaningful farm experiences, manage public events, and build the guest-facing businesses that connect urban consumers to the land.

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Program Overview

One of the fastest-growing sectors of Canadian rural tourism — and a real revenue stream for working farms.

Agritourism is one of the fastest-growing sectors of Canadian rural tourism. Farm markets, pick-your-own operations, farm stays, corn mazes, school tours, farm-to-table dinners, and harvest festivals are all part of a thriving sector that generates significant supplementary income for farm operations while building public awareness of where food comes from.

YSA’s Agritourism program is built around both the planning and the doing. Students help develop and operate YSA’s own public-facing events — including the annual Farm-to-Table dinner — gaining real experience in event management, customer service, marketing, and hospitality.

This program is ideal for students with interests in events, marketing, tourism, community engagement, or rural business development — and prepares graduates for careers in agritourism operations, rural tourism planning, and the broader hospitality industry.

What You’ll Learn

The full toolkit of an agritourism operator — planning, hosting, and growing.

Agritourism business models: types of operations, revenue streams, and market positioning

Event planning and logistics: from concept to execution

Farm visitor safety management: insurance, waivers, and public liability

Rural tourism marketing: social media, digital marketing, and tourism platforms

Guest experience design: hospitality standards and visitor experience management

Farm-to-table dinner planning: menu development, catering coordination, and event production

Interpretive programming: helping guests understand agriculture in engaging ways

Seasonal operations planning: managing busy seasons and off-season programming

Partnership development: collaborating with tourism boards, businesses, and community organizations

Financial management for agritourism enterprises: pricing, break-even, and profitability

Course Pathway

A three-year progression from foundation to mastery.

Year 1 · Grade 10

Foundation

Introduction to Agriculture I
Ag Safety & Effective Communications I
Introduction to Agritourism & Rural Tourism
Farm Visitor Safety & Public Liability
Hospitality & Guest Experience Fundamentals

Year 2 · Grade 11

Specialization

Agritourism II (Event Planning & Operations)
Rural Tourism Marketing & Social Media
Farm-to-Table Experience Design
SAE Project Development — Agritourism Enterprise or Event
Agricultural Business Fundamentals (Tourism Track)

Year 3 · Grade 12

Mastery

Advanced Agritourism (Business Development & Scaling)
Agritourism Capstone Event (plan and execute a real YSA public event)
Partnership & Community Engagement in Rural Tourism
SAE Project Completion & Presentation
Post-Secondary Transition: Tourism Management, Event Planning & Business Programs

Certifications & Credentials

Graduates leave with industry credentials that travel.

Alberta Tourism and Hospitality Foundations Certificate

Food Handler Certification (Alberta FSAP)

Alberta Farm Safety Certificate

Emergency First Aid & CPR

Social Media & Digital Marketing for Business (through coursework)

Career Pathways

Where this program leads.

Agritourism Operator

Own and manage a farm tourism enterprise (market, tours, events, stays).

Farm Events Coordinator

Plan and manage events on agricultural properties.

Rural Tourism Development Officer

Work with municipalities or DMOs to develop agritourism in a region.

Farm Market Manager

Operate a farm’s direct-to-consumer sales and market presence.

Experience Design Specialist

Create memorable guest experiences in farm and food tourism settings.

Hospitality Manager (Rural)

Manage guest operations for farm stays, lodges, or rural retreats.

Agricultural Communications & Marketing

Promote farm businesses and agricultural brands.

Food & Ag Tourism Guide / Educator

Lead food tourism experiences and farm educational tours.

Industry Connections

Built with the operators, chefs, and tourism organizations who host real guests.

Agritourism & Farm Events at YSA is shaped by tourism organizations, hospitality professionals, and food and agriculture operators across southern Alberta — partners who help design the curriculum and open doors to placements.

Become an Industry Partner

Tourism Medicine Hat / Tourism Lethbridge — rural tourism networking and industry connections
Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation agritourism extension program
YSA farm-to-table event partners — local restaurants, caterers, and food producers
Community Foundation of SE Alberta — community event and rural economic development connections
YSA Advisory Council members with agritourism, hospitality, or food service backgrounds

SAE Opportunities

Real projects. Real outcomes.

Every YSA student designs and runs a Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) project. Here are five starting points for Agritourism & Farm Events students:

Plan and execute a public YSA farm event from concept through to post-event analysis.

Develop a complete agritourism business plan for a specific farm operation.

Design an interpretive farm trail for school group visits to the YSA campus.

Build and manage YSA’s agritourism social media presence across one semester.

Conduct a visitor experience survey at a local agritourism operation and present recommendations.

Apply Now

Ready to build a career in Agritourism & Farm Events?

Applications for Fall 2027 are open. Get in touch — or jump straight in.

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