Summit County Opens New Opportunities To Agricultural Tourism, Strengthening Local Farming In Utah

Published on August 27, 2025

Summit County, Utah, has officially embraced cultivation tourism done a recently adopted ordinance, a move that is expected to sphere nan region’s rich | ranching history while besides enhancing nan economical viability of section cultivation operations. The ordinance allows for cultivation tourism to beryllium established arsenic a conditional usage successful various zoning districts crossed eastbound Summit County, contingent upon definite criteria being met. This determination not only provides an avenue for farmers and ranchers to supplement their income but besides promotes nan area arsenic a destination for unique, educational, and recreational experiences tied to nan land.

The Goal of Agricultural Tourism successful Summit County

The preamble of cultivation tourism comes arsenic portion of a broader effort to protect Summit County’s cultivation history, a captious facet of nan community’s identity. The ordinance intends to equilibrium nan request for economical improvement pinch nan preservation of cultivation lands and practices. By integrating tourism pinch farming and ranching operations, nan region hopes to guarantee that these basal industries tin thrive successful nan modern economy. The inaugural is seen arsenic a measurement to support section farmers and ranchers by opening up caller gross streams that tin make their businesses much sustainable.

According to nan region unit report, cultivation tourism will beryllium allowed arsenic a conditional usage successful each eastbound Summit County zoning districts, provided nan spot successful mobility is already being utilized arsenic an progressive cultivation operation. This intends that applicants will request to show that their spot is actively engaged successful farming aliases ranching activities. In addition, properties must meet nan criteria established by nan Utah Farmland Assessment Act to suffice for nan program. This rule allows cultivation properties to beryllium taxed based connected their productive capabilities alternatively than their marketplace value, which tin beryllium a important financial alleviation for farmers and ranchers.

Criteria for Agricultural Tourism Applicants

To statesman nan process of establishing cultivation tourism, applicants will beryllium required to taxable a elaborate exertion to nan county. This will see a communicative that explains nan history of nan workplace aliases ranch and outlines really nan spot is maintained. Additionally, applicants will request to supply logistical accusation astir nan cultivation tourism operations, including instrumentality usage, tract plans, parking facilities, and h2o usage. This ensures that each activities conducted nether nan programme are well-planned and aligned pinch nan sustainable cognition of nan land.

Once nan exertion is submitted, nan Eastern Summit County Planning Commission will reappraisal and o.k. nan proposal, successful statement pinch nan requirements for conditional usage permits. However, cultivation tourism permits travel pinch their ain group of regulations to support nan equilibrium betwixt tourism and cultivation production. The licence will let for tourism activities to beryllium held successful designated “activity centers,” which cannot return up much than 20% of nan property’s full acreage. This ensures that nan superior cultivation cognition remains nan attraction of nan property. Furthermore, nan remaining 80% of nan spot must proceed to beryllium utilized for cultivation production.

Restrictions and Considerations for Agricultural Tourism

The Planning Commission holds important authority complete cultivation tourism operations, pinch nan expertise to revoke permits if nan cultivation accumulation ceases connected nan property. This stipulation ensures that nan onshore remains chiefly dedicated to farming aliases ranching, moreover while diversifying into tourism activities. The ordinance besides places a headdress connected nan number of large-scale events that tin return spot connected immoderate fixed property. Events pinch much than 100 attendees are constricted to 24 per year, unless nan Planning Commission grants typical support for further events.

The unit study outlines a assortment of activities that suffice arsenic cultivation tourism, each of which must beryllium incidental to nan property’s superior cultivation operation. These activities could see workplace tours, workshops, “u-pick” operations, seasonal workplace stands, and harvest festivals. Other examples of cultivation tourism see hayrides, maize mazes, pumpkin patches, and moreover farm-to-table dinners. These activities not only connection acquisition and recreational opportunities for visitors but besides support section farmers by bringing direct-to-consumer income to nan forefront.

Already successful Action: Agricultural Tourism astatine Local Farms

Summit County is not starting from scratch erstwhile it comes to cultivation tourism. Several section farms person already integrated tourism into their operations, showcasing nan imaginable of this caller initiative. For instance, Gracie’s Farm hosts farm-to-table dinners, providing visitors pinch an authentic culinary acquisition successful a agrarian setting. This inaugural not only allows guests to bask fresh, locally originated meals but besides highlights nan relationship betwixt farming and nan nutrient they consume.

Similarly, Ballerina Farm, a celebrated influencer-driven farm, has successfully capitalized connected cultivation tourism by promoting its various cultivation equipment to a wide audience. The farm’s efforts person attracted important attention, acknowledgment successful portion to its societal media presence, which has helped bring consciousness to nan benefits of supporting section agriculture. These farms service arsenic examples of really cultivation tourism tin thrive successful Summit County, providing an economical boost while preserving nan region’s agrarian charm.

The Future of Agricultural Tourism successful Summit County

The county’s caller ordinance is expected to spark further liking successful cultivation tourism, pinch much farmers and ranchers apt to research nan anticipation of incorporating tourism into their operations. The operation of economical incentives and nan increasing desire for unsocial recreation experiences presents an breathtaking opportunity for Summit County to pull visitors seeking a sensation of agrarian life. For tourists, it opens up nan anticipation of experiencing agriculture firsthand, participating successful activities that link them to nan land, and supporting section businesses successful a meaningful way.

Moreover, nan ordinance serves arsenic a exemplary for different counties and regions looking to clasp cultivation tourism while maintaining nan integrity of their cultivation heritage. As nan request for much authentic, hands-on recreation experiences increases, cultivation tourism is poised to go an basal portion of nan tourism scenery successful Summit County and beyond.

A Sustainable Future for Agricultural Tourism

Summit County’s take of nan cultivation tourism ordinance represents a strategical measurement towards nan preservation of its cultivation practice while supporting nan section economy. Through observant readying and regulation, nan region is mounting nan shape for sustainable tourism maturation that benefits some farmers and visitors alike. With a divers array of activities and nan opportunity to acquisition life connected a moving workplace aliases ranch, Summit County is positioning itself arsenic a starring destination for cultivation tourism successful nan United States.

As nan region looks ahead, cultivation tourism is expected to go an progressively important contributor to nan section economy, enriching some nan visitant acquisition and nan livelihoods of section farmers and ranchers. This inaugural not only supports nan preservation of cultivation lands but besides strengthens nan relationship betwixt visitors and nan onshore that sustains them.