To innovate in ways that bring the community together, Doug and Cortney Dotterer have ventured beyond traditional dairy farming, transforming a section of their land into a vibrant sunflower maze – a project that has become a local attraction. What began as a casual idea inspired by a farm in Kentucky has now flourished into an annual event, attracting thousands of visitors eager to experience the beauty of sunflowers and farm life.

Have you ever heard the saying, “Farmers are the poorest millionaires you’ll ever know”? Millionaire status is not based on the amount of money someone has sitting in the bank but rather their overall net worth.

In the heart of Vancouver Island's Alberni Valley, Russell and Jennifer Dyson care for their water buffalo herd at Coleman Meadows Farm. From the bustling milking parlour to the warm welcome of visitors, their passion for farming and advocacy is palpable. The couple share an unwavering dedication to Canadian agriculture, bolstered by their bonds with the unusual creatures helping them fulfill their dairy dreams.

From her first job in high school working for a New Hampshire truck farmer to owning and operating Bread and Butter Farm in Shelburne, Vermont, fostering a connection between the community and the land that feeds it has remained a major focus for first-generation farmer Corie Pierce.

In its 10th season of being open, Purple Cow Winery began after Bruce Hemsarth’s kids, Andrew and Greg, moved away for a college education. Andrew Hemsarth says his father eventually “got this itch” which led to planting 800 vines and harvesting a whole lot of wine.

Creating mazes in 42 states, Stolworthy says, “When I started, many people thought corn mazes were just a fad, but I decided to do them anyway, thinking that it would be a great career for a few years – but it kept going.”

In this episode of the Progressive Dairy Podcast, host Kimmi Devaney visits with five dairy producers representing a variety of herd sizes and geographic regions about what agritourism looks like on their farms, how they got started, their advice for other producers interested in doing something similar and much more.

David and Natalie Nelson are a young couple who try to help educate the public about the importance of agriculture. Their farm is 125 years old this year.

A desire for their community to experience the farm firsthand led John Carter and his family to create an annual event on the day their cows are released out to pasture in late April.