Farming is more than a livelihood—it’s a calling, a legacy, and at times, a heavy burden to carry.

At La Ferme Quinn (Quinn Farm), every season brings something fresh and exciting—apple picking in the fall, baby animals in the spring, pumpkins and hayrides that make memories last a lifetime. But sometimes, the most meaningful harvest is not found in a basket, but in the stories and traditions that families carry with them. Recently, Phil and Stephanie Quinn received a heartfelt message from a family who has been visiting the farm for over a decade. Along with their note, they shared two photos—one taken 12 years ago, and one recreated this year in the very same spot. “We really enjoyed visiting your farm, meeting your animals and picking apples. Thank you for all that you do! I’m from a rural area and grew up around farms, and really miss the farm life. So it was lovely to visit your farm again (we haven’t gone in over a decade as a family—our kids have gone with their elementary schools). Our 4 kids recreated a photo we took of them 12 years ago at your farm, I thought you might like to see! We can’t wait to come back and go pumpkin picking!” The Power of Farm Experiences This simple act—recreating a photo—reminds us why agritourism is so much more than a fun day out. Farms like Quinn’s provide a place where families can reconnect not only with each other, but also with the land, the animals, and traditions that anchor them. When children return to a farm they visited years ago, they’re not just seeing fields of pumpkins or rows of apple trees. They’re stepping back into moments of laughter, learning, and togetherness. The familiar barn, the tractor rides, and even the scent of fresh apples create a bridge between past and present. Memories that Grow with Us As this family shared, visiting Quinn Farm wasn’t just about picking apples—it was about reliving a piece of their own story. For parents who grew up in rural areas, farms can feel like homecoming. For kids, it’s a chance to build their own library of memories, ones they’ll carry into adulthood. And for Phil and Stephanie, these stories are the heart of their work. Every pumpkin picked, every animal petted, every photo snapped represents another thread woven into the fabric of family tradition. Looking Ahead As autumn arrives, Quinn Farm welcomes thousands of visitors eager to make memories of their own. For some, it will be their first taste of farm life. For others, it’s the continuation of a tradition that has spanned years—or even generations. And for one family, the story continues this fall, as they return once more—this time to pick pumpkins, pose for photos, and keep building a tradition that is uniquely theirs. At Quinn Farm, it’s not just about what you harvest in the fields—it’s about the memories that last long after the season ends.

At NAFDMA Convention & Expo, something special happens the moment you arrive. Yes, you’ll find world-class educational sessions, inspiring keynotes, and plenty of innovative ideas to bring home. But ask any past attendee what really sticks with them, and you’ll hear the same thing again and again: the relationships. Networking at Convention isn’t just small talk over coffee—it’s conversations that can change the trajectory of your farm, your business, and your future. Here's some thoughts from current board members about the power of NAFDMA Networking. The Power of Peers Farming and agritourism can be lonely work. Few people truly understand the challenges of balancing crops, customers, and community. At NAFDMA, you’re surrounded by peers who not only understand but respect the unique path you’re walking. “Your peers at NAFDMA are the only people in the world who never call in sick! They respect your business as much as they respect theirs.” — Olivia Telschow, Helene’s Hilltop Orchard, Merrill, WI That mutual respect is the foundation for lasting connections. It’s what turns a quick introduction into a trusted friendship—and sometimes, into a future business breakthrough. Conversations that Open Doors Networking here isn’t about swapping business cards—it’s about discovering solutions you didn’t even know you needed. Every workshop, farm tour, and Expo booth creates space for conversations that spark ideas and build confidence. “Convention networking has been a tremendous asset in building our business. The knowledge we’ve gained from our peers has opened opportunities we never knew existed. Success becomes easier when we invest in the relationships we build through NAFDMA—these relationships will continue to open new doors!!” — Scott DeBuck, DeBuck’s Family Farms, Belleville, MI From Ideas to Inspiration The best part? Those conversations don’t stop when the Convention ends. They travel home with you, fueling creativity, problem-solving, and inspiration long after the event. “Networking at Convention has been invaluable for us. The chance to connect with peers who truly understand our industry has not only sparked new ideas but also created lasting relationships. Every conversation opens a door to fresh opportunities, and those connections continue to support and inspire long after Convention ends.” — Andrea DeJesus, A&H Farms, Manhattan, KS Every Handshake Matters Whether it’s a quick hallway chat, a roundtable discussion, or a shared meal, every moment is an opportunity to learn from someone who has walked the same rows you do. “At NAFDMA, every handshake carries the potential to change your farm, your business, and your future—the power of networking here is unmatched, and it isn’t just about sharing experiences; it’s about discovering solutions you never knew you needed from people who’ve walked the same rows you do.” — Alma Galloway, Galloway Farm, Hallsboro, NC Why NAFDMA Convention & Expo? Because in addition to the educational sessions, the Expo floor, and the farm tours—you gain something you can’t put a price on: a community. A network of peers who will answer the phone when you’re stuck, celebrate with you when you succeed, and inspire you to keep going when times are tough. That’s the heart of NAFDMA Convention & Expo. And it’s why year after year, attendees come back—not just for the content, but for the connections. ✨ Ready to open new doors for your farm and your future? Join us at the next NAFDMA Convention & Expo and experience firsthand the power of networking with peers who truly get it.

Adding Pops of Color to Your Spring Festival 

As we head into the busiest time for many agritourism farms, owners and managers start to look at quick and easy ways to add new offerings to their customers. One way to increase the per-person spend? Add snacks! Biting Off the Next Bite of Consumer Attention? Food & Beverage may seem daunting, but there are many ways to simplify it. If you are just getting started, you may want to check out our Concessions 101 webinar. This gives you the most important things you need to know to start adding food, snacks, and drinks. If you are wanting to "level up" the experience for your guests, avoid some pitfalls by viewing the webinar titled Food & Beverage: 8 Things I Wouldn't Do . How to Get Started One of the easiest ways to get started is by using a pre-made snack that just needs heating up. The Amish Pretzel Company/Ben's Pretzels has just worked with Gordon Food Service to add both their 5.5 ounce pretzel and their pretzel bites to the GFS line of products. Who doesn't love a warm, tasty pretzel?! New Partnership from a NAFDMA Industry Member In the words of Tiffany from The Amish Pretzel Company: You may not remember me from the NAFDMA Expo but hopefully you remember sampling the world's best frozen pretzel. I am happy to let you know, you can now find our products the 5.5 ounce pretzel and the pretzel bites at your local Gordan Food Service (GFS) (NOTE: They do not stock in Florida or Texas) 96 ct - 5.5 ounce pretzel $124.99 Pretzel bites - $109.99 If you choose to use GFS for your ordering just let your GFS know that you will be ordering so they can plan to stock plenty for your farm. If this option does not work, you can always reach me to ship directly to you. Tiffany 574-215-8470.

When a family farm in rural New York sent a cold email to Ford, they never expected to hear back. What started as a hopeful note to a generic inbox evolved into one of the biggest collaborations in Long Acre Farms’ history—an iconic sponsorship that brought “Fast Never Fades: 60 Years of Mustang” roaring to life in their 2025 Amazing Maze.

When guests rave about your… bathrooms, you know you’re onto something. At Stuckey Farm, what started as one dad’s firm “no” to porta-potties has grown into Agritourism Solutions—a build shop that designs and customizes luxury bathroom trailers purpose-built for farms. We caught up with Jordan Pierce to talk origin story, design choices, build timelines, guest reactions, and what’s next. “My dad said, ‘Build me a bathroom trailer—and make it nice enough that guests leave surprised they just had a great bathroom experience… on a farm.’” — Jordan Pierce Origin Story & Inspiration What inspired you to build bathroom trailers on the farm? Like many farms, we felt stuck with porta-potties—and my dad hated them. One day he came to me and said, “Build me a bathroom trailer and make it nice so guests are pleasantly surprised they had a good bathroom experience at a farm.” That was the spark. Any unusual inspirations that shaped the concept? Our family has some background in remodeling and house flipping, so we asked, what would a bathroom feel like if it were in your home? That residential mindset drives our choices. Design & Functionality Walk us through the designs. We currently offer three base layouts for 32' trailers and two for 18' , and then we customize from there. Recently we built a trailer with 8 women’s stalls and 2 men’s stalls plus a removable wall so it can convert to women-only in the future. Beyond layout, clients chose flooring, light fixtures, vanities, sink styles, and colors —down to the details. These are truly built to order. Standard features you won’t compromise on? All trailers are fully insulated with luxury vinyl plank flooring , and we spec extended tongues (so if someone jackknifes the trailer, they won’t slam into the fresh corner you just paid for). We only use high-quality materials. These are luxury bathroom trailers —we want buyers to feel a touch of the same luxury their guests will feel. How do you decide on finishes—lighting, sinks, stalls? We sit down with each farm and pick everything together so the trailer matches their brand. Exterior colors can be customized too—and if nothing fits, we can vinyl wrap the trailer. These are basically made to exact order for other farms. Building & Logistics What does the build process look like—from concept to completion? Once the deposit lands, it’s about 9 weeks for the shell and 3 weeks for our interior build-out . Any challenges—weather, budget, permitting, technical issues? Our workshop fits two 32-footers side-by-side , so weather’s not a problem. Permitting hasn’t been an issue because the units are portable . How long did the very first build take—and how about now? Our first farm trailer took about 5 weeks to finish out. Now that we’ve got our rhythm, it’s about 3 weeks to complete interiors once the shell arrives. Function & Farm Fit How do the trailers change the flow at events? Porta-potties can feel like a “negative” guests tolerate. With our trailers, people come out smiling —and talking about how nice the bathroom was. Five years ago I wouldn’t have believed I’d hear guests discussing bathrooms at Stuckey Farm… yet here we are. Permanent or mobile? Best case, you tie into an existing septic field . But there are options: we can pump into fertilizer tanks that your septic service empties, and we can build onboard tanks when needed. Capacity & maintenance? An optimized 32' trailer with 8 women’s stalls, 3 urinals, and 1 men’s stall can comfortably move ~6,500 people in a weekend with little to no wait. Maintenance is surprisingly light— sweep occasionally, restock TP . Because the space feels upscale, guests tend to keep it clean . We also include toiletry containers to cut down on clogs. Guest Experience & Reactions What are you hearing from guests and staff? Our staff bathrooms are permanent… and staff still choose the trailer . Guests tell friends in line they have to “go in there and try it.” Any surprises? We overbuild and oversize the plumbing , and maintenance has stayed much lower than expected . Design Philosophy & Vision What principles guide your design? Luxury. A luxury buying experience for the farm and a luxury using experience for the guest. We want to help farms elevate the standard and finally say goodbye to the—pardon me— “green plastic poop saunas.” How do you want guests to feel inside? As close to home as possible. Going to the bathroom away from home is vulnerable; we design to reduce that discomfort. Does this align with your broader brand? Yes—my dad and I built out a larger offering called Agritourism Solutions to provide practical, guest-experience-forward solutions for farms. We want to help farms elevate their guest experience and set a new standard for bathrooms on farms. Special Features & Storie s Any special touches to highlight? Lots. Every door and divider are hand-built , and most elements are custom. The craftsmanship is a point of pride. Memorable build moments? We run a tight ship in the shop—fun happens out on the farm. Check our Facebook for the lighter side. Future Plans & Reflections What’s next on the product roadmap? We’re designing three modular trailers : Baby-changing / nursing-mom trailer Mobile office Bride or groom getting-ready suite What did you learn that you’ll carry forward? Every trailer sparks new ideas. I wish I could turn my brain off, but I'm always coming up with better ways to do things and new features to add. What’s next for Stuckey Farm itself? We’ll refine existing offerings and keep improving. Practical Advice for Other Farms Advice for farms considering something similar? Even if you’re staying with porta-potties, mitigate the experience —dress them up, increase cleaning on busy weekends. But if you get a bathroom trailer , there’s no going back —your guests will thank you. Anything you wish you’d known earlier? Rental demand. Off-season rentals can generate real revenue. I talked with a farm that rented a bathroom trailer for two months for $30,000 . At-a-Glance Specs (example 32' build) Layouts: 3 base (fully customizable) Example capacity: 8 women’s stalls + 3 urinals + 1 men’s stall Throughput: ~6,500 guests/weekend with minimal waits Materials: Fully insulated; LVP flooring ; high-quality fixtures Extras: Extended tongue; custom finishes; exterior color or vinyl wrap options Plumbing: Oversized lines; onsite tanks or tie-in; pump-to-tank options Connect with Agritourism Solutions Contact: Jordan Pierce Phone: 317-371-4047 Email: jordanpierce@stuckeyfarm.com “When 20-year-old me joined Stuckey Farm, I never imagined I’d be talking luxury bathroom trailers—but here we are, and I’m loving it.” — Jordan

Step onto any farm during peak season, and you’ll see it—that sparkle in a first-time guest’s eyes. They’ve just stepped out of the parking lot and into a world that smells like kettle corn, sounds like laughter, and feels a little like stepping back in time.

If you think sunflowers are the ultimate summer flower, you might want to think again. FestiFleurs at La Belle de Coteau-du-Lac is flipping the script—and the field—with more than 200 varieties of stunning blooms, creative photo ops, and immersive flower experiences that go far beyond your typical upick. We sat down with the visionary behind the festival, Marc-André Isabelle, to hear how this blooming dream came to life at La Belle de Coteau-du-Lac. What inspired the creation of FestiFleurs, and how has it evolved over the years? FestiFleurs started blooming in my brain after our 2020 sunflower festival. The flower picking frenzy got so wild, people were parading through town with their bouquets on the way to restaurants! That year also showed me just how risky it is to count on perfect weather for just three weekends—especially when it made up a big chunk of our income. So the wheels started turning. I imagined something longer-lasting, with more variety, and that same joy of picking flowers. The first spark? Those bold, colorful bands of tulips in the Netherlands—but with annuals that bloom in July and August. After year one, attendance wasn’t quite sunflower-level, but the people who came? They really picked flowers—and that showed me the potential. Over the next few years, I leaned into creative photo ops: the big swing, the staircase, and then the hearts! Fun fact: the staircase idea came from the glamour of red carpets—Oscar night, Cannes, the Met Gala. Why not La Belle? But I didn’t want a boring square staircase. I wanted curves. Flow. Intrigue. Then my girlfriend showed me a floral heart arch... and I said, “Yup. I can make that.” Turns out, that photo was from the Dubai Miracle Garden. Let’s just say… different budget! Still, even with some flower growing struggles, we pulled off 3.5 out of 5 hearts in 2024, and it was a massive hit—attendance jumped 50%. The remnants of Hurricane Debbie even gave me the idea for 2025’s inspiration. I get a lot of ideas from the world around me… and then twist them a little to make them my own. With over 200 varieties of flowers, how do you decide which blooms to showcase each year? For the upick area, I focus on giving guests a wide variety—colors, shapes, textures. I pay close attention to what people love picking and tweak the selection each season. When it comes to the photo scenes, though, flower choices are all about design strategy: I fill space completely—no blank spots. I layer heights, using shorter plants near people and taller ones in the background. I define the edges of the scene clearly. I vary backdrops: tall sunflowers, corn, climbers, you name it. And for intense color coverage—especially for something like the hearts—petunias are unbeatable. What sets FestiFleurs apart from other floral festivals or summer events? I design each scenic photo space from the ground up, not just toss props into whatever flower patch looks good. Take 2024’s "piano alley" as an example: Three pianos, three distinct vibes. One was wild and prairie-inspired—rudbeckia, gomphrenas, ornamental grass. Another was romantic, with dreamy pink blooms and a landscape backdrop. The last was a baby grand floating in a sea of blue and white, cloudlike flowers. Because we use annuals, I can redesign the entire scene each year with completely different blooms. It keeps things fresh—and way more exciting than a sunflower-only field. What do you hope visitors feel or take away after attending FestiFleurs? One comment from the early days still sticks with me: “We sit in the flowers and feel like we’re on vacation.” That’s the goal. A peaceful pause. An escape. People walk through the festival, discovering it piece by piece. Sometimes they even lose track of where they are. Even our own staff sees it fully for the first time once it’s all in bloom—it’s that transformative. How did the Sunset and Bonfire evenings come about, and why are they so loved? Sunset lighting = magic. The skies, the softer glow—it all makes for better pictures. Add in music, bonfires, and now this year… we finally got our alcohol license! That festive vibe really brought in a new crowd. We also added tons of lights to the photo scenes, thanks to a grant. It transforms the flower field as the sun goes down, making it feel almost like a dream. The photo ops during that transition? Absolutely stunning. What are some of your favorite photo spots or hidden gems? This year? The hearts—no question. What started as 3.5/5 in bloom became a full 7/5. Unreal. Close second? The stairway. I added more flowers this year and the curves pop. Bonus: the fountain beside it makes for an awesome backdrop. Hidden gem? There’s a tucked-away mini stairway with a French door balcony overlooking a patch of sunflowers, the main stairway, and the pond. Pure magic. Do you have any special moments or stories from past festivals that have stayed with you? Honestly, it’s the little experiments that end up becoming big wins. Like growing flowers in raspberry fertigation substrate bags and seeing how lush they got for photo scenes. Now we’ve got an underground system to distribute that raspberry “juice”—it’s flower fuel! Or the first pond I made—just a sump pump and plastic tubing—but people loved it! That’s when I realized: people love water in their photos. Hurricane Debbie flooded our field one year and the reflections were so stunning, it inspired me to build a real pond in front of the hearts for 2025. What’s one tip you'd give to first-time visitors? Forget the clock. Seriously. One guest said: "I'll swing by quickly to check it out." Three hours later… they were on their knees between rows, chasing the perfect shot. If you love flowers, flower photos, or just strolling with no agenda—this is your kind of place. Warning: You may leave with a sudden urge to garden… or change your phone wallpaper. Anything else you'd like people to know? People always say, “Wow, this is way more than I expected.” We try to show it all in pictures, videos, reels, drone shots—even bring in influencers—but still, folks are blown away. That’s a good thing (under-promise, over-deliver), but if anyone has tips for how we can better capture the feeling of FestiFleurs in our marketing, I’m all ears.  And to those who are curious—don’t be afraid to step outside the sunflower box. Flowers are deeply satisfying. It’s taken a lot of dedication, teamwork, and perseverance to grow FestiFleurs to what it is today. But in the last two seasons, we’ve really started to see the seeds we planted take root. This might just be the year we outpace sunflower attendance—and I’m ready for it.