Home WANTED Home
Have you been thinking about diversifying to increase your farm income? Do you like meeting new people and exchanging stories? If so, consider joining the Pennsylvania Farm Vacation Association Inc.

The association is looking for working farms operators who are willing to offer overnight accommodations and recreational facilities to visitors. Farm vacations can be a substantial supplement to your present farm income.

As family farms disappear from our landscape, city folks are becoming increasingly interested in learning about the culture and tradition of the agrarian lifestyle.

In addition to income, farm vacations present a unique opportunity to promote rural and urban understanding. City visitors learn to understand the day-to-day farm operation and often help with light chores. And farm families who are kept them close to home with chores, enjoy visits from city folks.

Benefits of membership in the
Pennsylvania Farm Vacation Association Inc.

Members in PFVA leverage their $200 membership dues to receive the following benefits:

  • Inclusion on our web site www.pafarmstay.com. This includes, at no cost to the member farm, monthly internet costs for hosting the page. Free link to member's existing website. New member farms who do not have a website may wish to contact our webmaster about developing either a page on our site or a website for their farm (For $250, the webmaster will develop a page, within pafarmstay.com). The development of a web page must be done at the new member's expense.

  • An on-line click brochure on the pafarmstay website so that prospective guests can have information about all farms at their fingertips. (added in 2000)

  • On-line availability of member farms. The cost is just $20/farm. Farms have found that having on-line availability has increased their bookings. (added in 2001)

  • In 2003, 12,000 PFVA brochures were printed, at no additional cost to members. Brochures were distributed to state welcome centers, tourist promotion agencies, and PSU extension offices.

  • Each member farm also receives a supply of brochures to give to farm guests and local businesses.

  • Press releases sent, throughout the year, to over 350 media contacts, with information about PFVA (e.g. including our web site) and sending press kits to media for a possible feature story.

  • A toll-free number for the public to request a PFVA brochure.

  • Display boards about PFVA for the public - displayed at state welcome centers, agricultural fairs and other events.

  • Networking opportunities with member farms at our two semi-annual meetings. Meetings are rotated around the state at member farms. Although most of our member farms also belong to local or regional associations, farms face unique opportunities and problem areas that can best be discussed with other farm vacation members.

PFVA is a member-driven organization. PFVA developed a business plan in March.1996. At each of our semi-annual meetings, using the plan as our foundation, a set of action steps is developed.

All member PFVA farms are inspected and submit a yearly clean water certificate. A sign identifying the farm as a PFVA member is available for farms to display.

For more information e-mail us at membership@pafarmstay.com or call 1-(888) 856-6622

The Pennsylvania Farm Vacation Association Inc.
combining Pennsylvania’s # 1 and 2 industries
Agriculture and Tourism