Join us for the second Maryland Agritourism Conference hosted by The University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, in partnership with UMES Extension.
The three-day conference promotes real-world strategies to boost agritourism as a profitable, value-added opportunity.
The three-day conference will be held Nov. 15-17, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina in Cambridge, Maryland.
Educational sessions (including hands-on workshops) and expert panels are planned, in addition to networking and time to visit exhibitors and vendors. This event is a perfect fit for agritourism operators (including farmers, ranchers, wineries, breweries and agribusinesses), tourism professionals and service providers, as well as academia, government and non-governmental agencies.
This year’s theme is“Boosting Agritourism Strategies to Improve the Profitability of Family Farms.”
The event will kick off Nov. 15 with a welcoming reception. On Nov. 16, we will begin at 7 a.m., with sessions beginning at 8:30 a.m. (breakfast, lunch and dinner included). On Nov. 17, we will begin at 7 a.m., sessions begin at 8 a.m. and end at noon (breakfast included). Visit website for the schedule.
A separate ticket is available for our Sunday, Nov. 15, off-site tour of two agritourism operations. A bus from the hotel will take participants to these locations. There, you will hear directly from the operators on their experiences and how they learned to overcome hurdles. For more details, visit Maryland Agritourism Conference website.
COST:
Early bird: $200 per person (sales end Aug. 31)
General Admission: $250 per person (sales end Nov. 1)
Offsite Tour: $75 per person (limited seats available)
*Only ticketholders will be permitted entry to event content, sessions, panels, workshops, reception and meals. A separate ticket is required for the off-site tour; only UMES off-site tour ticketholders will be permitted to take part in the UMES tour, tasting, Sunday lunch and transportation. The format of the conference and off-site tour is geared toward adults.
HOTEL:
For block hotel accommodations at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina, visit https://www.hyatt.com/events/en-US/group-booking/CHESA/G-UME6. A limited number of rooms are available at conference group pricing, which ends Oct. 16.
LEARN MORE:
Event schedule and speakers, travel and hotel information, and more, visit Agritourism Conference website
BECOME A SPONSOR:
For sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities, visit conference website.
CONTACT: agritourism@umes.edu
