NALC webinar will review liability challenges for equine, agritourism business owners
“These businesses have a lot to offer for both the owners and the community, but there are key risks involved that must be accounted for before opening their doors to the general public.” —Rusty Rumley
By Drew Viguet
National Agricultural Law Center
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Oct. 7, 2024
Fast facts:
- Agritourism industry continues to grow
- NALC webinar will highlight risk and liability with these businesses
- Webinar registration is no cost online
- NALC, U of Vermont offer online survey on agritourism
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Newsrooms: Download related photos of pumpkins, Rumley and Potter
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — With the fall season comes visits to pumpkin patches, hayrides,
corn mazes and petting zoos – but for owners of these attractions, risk and liability
come along with visitors.
“Agritourism is a huge industry, and continues to grow,” Rusty Rumley, senior staff
attorney at the National Agricultural Law Center, or NALC, said. “It can diversify
a farm’s income, but there is risk and liability associated with it for business owners.”
The 2022 Census of Agriculture showed a rise in the income generated from agritourism and recreational services,
jumping from $949 million in 2017 to almost $1.26 billion in 2022.
With a growing industry comes the potential for liability, whether due to injuries
or illnesses experienced by patrons.
“States around the country have implemented specific statutes that outline the responsibilities
and liabilities for business owners who are involved in agritourism and equine-related
activities,” Rumley said. “It’s important that owners are aware of these statutes
and the limitations inherent in them as well. However, further risk mitigation tools
such as liability insurance and proper planning are also needed to limit potential
risk.”
Equine Activity & Agritourism Statutes: Strategies for Risk Management, the next webinar
hosted by the NALC, will focus on states’ statutes and the strategies business owners
can take to mitigate risk. The webinar will be presented by Rumley and Tim Potter,
equine and animal scientist with a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University, and owner of Potter Consulting, LLC.
“The NALC hears about unique legal situations involving equine and agritourism frequently,”
Rumley said. “These businesses have a lot to offer for both the owners and the community,
but there are key risks involved that must be accounted for before opening their doors
to the general public.”
The webinar is available at no cost. Registration is available online at the NALC website.
During the presentation, Rumley and Potter will also provide real-life examples of
risks associated with the equine and agritourism operations as well as practical solutions
to address these concerns.
“It’s a fascinating area of agricultural law,” Potter said. “While the fruits of business
owners’ labor is visible, there is so much that goes on behind the scenes to ensure
these practices are safe from potential risk and liability.”
Rumley said Potter’s years of experience with horses will be a huge benefit to webinar
attendees curious about equine liability.
“Dr. Potter has owned horses his entire life and has consulted with many over the
years on these animals, ranging from topics on health issues, to behavior, safety
issues and more,” Rumley said. “He’s an excellent addition to our webinar series.”
Agritourism survey opportunity
The University of Vermont, in partnership with the NALC, is hosting an online survey to understand how many U.S. agricultural operations welcome visitors for education,
research, direct sales, hospitality and entertainment. Those who have a farm, ranch,
or other agricultural business open to visitors are encouraged to participate in the
brief survey.
For information about the National Agricultural Law Center, visit nationalaglawcenter.org or follow @Nataglaw on X. The National Agricultural Law Center is also on Facebook and LinkedIn.
Subscribe online to receive NALC Communications, including webinar announcements, the NALC’s Quarterly
Newsletter, and The Feed.
If you are involved in agriculture, the NALC wants to hear from you. Take the NALC’s
brief stakeholder survey online to help inform how the center serves the nation’s ag community.
About the National Agricultural Law Center
The National Agricultural Law Center serves as the nation’s leading source of agricultural
and food law research and information. The NALC works with producers, state and federal
policymakers, Congressional staffers, attorneys, land grant universities, and many
others to provide objective, nonpartisan agricultural and food law research and information
to the nation’s agricultural community.
The NALC is a unit of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and
works in close partnership with the USDA Agricultural Research Service, National Agricultural
Library.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen
agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption
of best practices. The Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work
within the nation’s historic land grant education system through the Agricultural
Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas
System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is an equal opportunity/equal
access/affirmative action institution. If you require a reasonable accommodation to
participate or need materials in another format, please contact dviguet@uark.edu as
soon as possible. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay.
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Media contact:
Drew Viguet
Communications & Special Projects Coordinator
National Agricultural Law Center
dviguet@uark.edu