AlpacaGram 13.12 | Contact Your Congressperson In Support of the Agritourism Bill

Contact Your Congressperson In Support of the Agritourism Bill

On February 23, Congressman Subramanyam, Virginia, will present the bipartisan Agritourism Act. We are asking you, our members, to contact your congressperson and ask them to co-sponsor the Agritourism Act and support its inclusion in the Farm Bill.

You may use the following verbiage, written by Bonnie Kittrell, owner of Double 8 Alpaca and Llama Ranch, who recently lobbied on Capitol Hill for this bill.

To remain sustainable, most of our alpaca breeders have added agritourism to their business models. By welcoming visitors to the farm, they create an additional revenue stream while helping the public understand where fiber begins. As you know, opening a working farm to guests requires investment in infrastructure, staffing, and liability coverage. Many federal programs were not designed with agritourism in mind, which makes support difficult to access. It's important to mention the educational role farms play. Our alpaca owners mentor 4-H and FFA students, animal science programs, and aspiring veterinarians. For our constituents, agriculture is not only about production. It is about building confidence, teaching responsibility, and preparing the next generation of agricultural leaders.

Agritourism strengthens rural economies, supports youth education, and helps family farms remain viable.

Please, support the Agritourism Bill. And if you will, join the Agritourism Caucus.