09/27/2026
There’s a new agritourism grant worth watching.
Airbnb and American Farmland Trust are launching the Farm to Stay Grant Program, with awards expected to range from $5,000–$10,000 for eligible working farms and ranches looking to create or expand visitor experiences.
That could mean things like farm stays, workshops, U-pick experiences, farm dinners, tours, or other ways to bring people onto the farm and create an additional revenue stream.
But here’s the part I think matters most:
Grant money does not make the hard parts disappear.
Depending on where you are, you may still be dealing with permitting, zoning, insurance, health and safety requirements, parking, access, and whether the idea actually makes financial sense.
I don’t want to be a “Debbie downer” on this, and I’m not saying it’s not worth it.
Because I really believe that the grant could help take some of the risk out of doing it correctly.
Additional Information:
The total funding pool is $250,000, which means only about 25–30 farms are expected to receive awards. Applications are also expected to be capped at roughly 350 total.
There are currently two official info sessions scheduled:
• October 14 at 5:00 PM ET
• November 13 at 12:00 PM ET
Applications are expected to open in late November.
If you are considering applying, I would start now by thinking through:
What experience actually fits your farm?
What does your county allow?
What permits or insurance would you need?
What would it cost to launch?
And most importantly, would it create enough revenue to be worth doing?
For official eligibility, application details, and allowable expenses, check the American Farmland Trust Farm to Stay Grant Program page directly.
And follow me for more practical small business and agricultural business content, including opportunities like this and the realities you should think through before jumping in.
