Learn how successful agritourism operators in North America have grown their businesses by selling their products and offering unique experiences directly to the public. How do you capture new sales and build loyalty for future business with existing customers? What are the marketing basics that you should never forget? How do you understand your customer’s needs and exceed them? We’ll present the top ten ways to promote your farm and grow your business.

As I travel across Canada, I can’t help but get excited about all the new value adding initiatives that I see farmers undertaking. Some are very modest initiatives, while others are much grander in scheme. But, what I think is important, is that these farmers are taking action to make positive change in their lives verses waiting for someone else to do it for them. They are actively searching for new value from what they are currently doing on the farm! Value adding isn’t the answer for every farm, but it can help many to become more sustainable for the future. This Agri-Webinar explores agricultural value adding and looks at a number of successful Agravators™ (Agra-Innovators) who are using the value adding concept to Power Up Their Farms for new profits and new opportunities for them and the next generation.

Working towards the ‘Triple-E’ sustainable agriculture business model is tricky. Like all farming it is exhausting, frustrating, rewarding, costly, and challenging in un-equal measures. Mostly however it is not dependant on outside forces, but on your will to survive and on your ability to adapt and innovate in response to the marketplace. It also continually requires you to take a very hard look at every single aspect/line of your business and what it is ‘paying you back’ for your efforts.

In 1912 the Kilby family obtained over two hundred acres of land adjoining their General Store and started the Waterloo Jersey Dairy Farm. The farm was named after Thomas Kilby’s first Canadian home in Waterloo, Ontario. In addition to developing a Jersey herd through the 1920s, they also kept chickens, pigs and other farm animals. Livestock played a vital role for the early settlers in the Fraser Valley, providing both food and a source of income. Today we pride ourselves in presenting our living history working farm. The homestead resembles the farm just as it was in the 1920s. Friendly farm animals and replicated outbuildings bring to life the way was in its day.

We have a wonderful orchard here on site that was planted in the spring of 1926. Some of the trees still bear fruit today. The varieties selected produce a constant supply of apples from late August until early October. Young saplings have been planted near the old ones to replace lost trees. All the fruit trees are identified with tags. During the fall, juice and cider-making are demonstrated.

The Orchard Playground contains a sandbox, tree fort, teeter-totter and swings for the enjoyment of the children. Contained in a small lean-to is a variety of games, such as croquet and stilts for everyone to enjoy.

Throughout the site you’ll explore the topics of transportation, geography, local native culture, the logging industry and farming in the 1920s. The Kilby family had built small shed with a gas pump, on their farm, early in the 1920s to facilitate service to boaters and farmers. Roads came to Harrison Mills in 1926 and 1927 when the bridge was built over the Harrison River. The highway passed through is area furthering the need for a filling station. Imperial Oil was the main source of gasoline and in 1973 Acton received an award from the company for fifty years of service. Acton continued to sell gasoline to neighbors and visitors until 1977.