Agri-tourism is growing quickly, and could be much more common in a short time in the farming industry.
That’s the opinion of Jenn Austin-Driver, one of the co-owners for Millen & Smith Acres, which has become a popular local destination for visitors to the area.
Jenn grew up in Brampton, but decided to move to Peterborough County after she had her first child, and reconnected with her Great Uncle Bill, who is a lifelong farmer in the region.
She would go on to buy his farm six years ago, and has expanded it to much more than just a chicken farm. She says the learning experience has been steep since starting her own farm.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jenn turned to AirBNB to offer tours of her farm as she believes it’s important for people from the city to learn more about farming and the animal experience. She also hosts weddings and live music events on the property, which has been a popular attraction in the summer.
Austin-Driver says she can see more and more farmers expanding into the agri-tourism field, especially with options like AirBNB making it easier to diversify.
To learn more about Jenn’s journey, listen to a full interview at the link below.
