Authentic Farm and Ranch Stays. What’s in a Name?

by Scottie Jones, | March 7, 2019

(Header Photo: East Hill Farm)

We are so excited to present our updated website! This has been a labor of love, time, patience, and outside support.

We launched our first website in 2010 to introduce the term ‘farm stay’ into the American vernacular of travel and to give our farmers and ranchers a place to promote their experiential offerings. Looking back over those years, we know we were successful.

But, now the brand of real working farms and ranches offering lodging is being diluted on sites that don’t verify the authenticity of their operations. Anyone can tick the box for farm stay on many of the best known booking engines.

We have worked too hard to let this go unchallenged!

What you will find on the Farm Stay USA website are only farms and ranches that meet our Accreditation Standards. Our member partners promise an immersive experience in their rural lifestyle, whether it be a chance to help with chores, see food production first-hand, or experience the warmth of rural hospitality.

Want to milk a cow or goat? Want to help herd cattle? Want a private bath or to eat organic? We’ll show you which farms and ranches offer these things.

Unlike other sites, we don’t only promote by location, but rather by the activities you can get involved with, the amenities you require, the food you would like to eat. Want to milk a cow or goat? Want to help herd cattle? Want a private bath or to eat organic? We’ll show you which farms and ranches offer these things.

Only 2% of the U.S. population still lives on farms and ranches. That means the other 98% reside in
suburban/urban areas, disconnected from our rural countryside, the natural world… and ultimately each
other.

We would like to invite you to stay with us. It won’t be dirty; it won’t be boring; we won’t make you work; and it will be fun!

What you may not realize, but of utmost importance, your visits help us reduce the agricultural risk of
our operations by diversifying our income, gives us on-farm jobs for our kids, and brings money into our
rural communities. So, thank you!

 

Insight: This site and our nonprofit trade association (The US Farm Stay Association) are operated by two farmers who have their own farm stay business. We love being involved with our members from all over the country. We are proud to be part of the farm stay movement. And, ultimately, we love to show off to travelers the best authentic working farm and ranches vacations in America, ever!

 

We would like to invite you to stay with us. It won’t be dirty; it won’t be boring; we won’t make you work; and it will be fun!