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SUMMARY:Maryland Agritourism Webinar Series
DTSTART:20260820T140000Z
DTEND:20260820T150000Z
DTSTAMP:20260623T154032Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260623T154033Z
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DESCRIPTION:\nKeeping Your Farm and Business Safe in Changing Economic Times by Broadening Revenue Streams\n\n\n\nSugar Water Manor owner Dana Zucker gives a tour of her farm in Somerset County\, Maryland. (Photo by Todd Dudek\, UMES Ag Communications)\n\n\n\nLearn how agritourism can broaden your profitability and keep your farm and business safe by building long-term protection in changing economic times at the next Maryland Agritourism Webinar Series hosted by University of Maryland Eastern Shore Extension.\n\n\n\nThe webinar will be held from 10-11 a.m. Thursday\, Aug. 20\, via Teams.\n\n\n\nWhile times are uncertain for agritourism with the changing economic environment (inflation\, weather risk\, market volatility\, labor shortages\, and shifting consumer demand)\, we need to have varied revenue streams to address these challenges.\n\n\n\nDana Zucker\, owner and operator of Sugar Water Farm and Sugar Water Manor in Somerset County\, Maryland\, will discuss the significance of agritourism activities to reduce or minimize risks to build long-term protection for the core business while adding compatible income streams. \n\n\n\nZucker will also share achievable and practical solutions complete with actionable items\, along with various ways to market your activities.\n\n\n\nParticipants will walk away with ideas that can be used to protect a farm against uncertainty. This is not just about adding profit\, but using what you have that fits your existing land\, labor and customer base. Your farm and business already have value in the land\, the story\, the products and the experience. The goal is to turn that value into multiple income streams without weakening the business that made it possible. \n\n\n\nZucker’s businesses bring between 2\,500-3\,000 visitors to Somerset County each year. Her business ventures include Sugar Water Restaurant\, a water to table restaurant\, the Washington Hotel\, a historic bed-and-breakfast\, and Sugar Water Farm. She sources directly from local growers\, producers\, fishers and watermen. Most recently\, Dana and her husband formed a farm-based 501(c)3\, The Watering Can. \n\n\n\nRetiring from a nonprofit career\, she continued her love of connecting people to their food through her travel/food writing. Since opening Sugar Water Manor in 2021\, she has exceeded her plan and purchased an additional 45 acres (Sugar Water Farm) to diversify revenue streams to meet the needs of her passions\, guests and community.  \n\n\n\nIn 2024\, she bought and opened a hotel and restaurant. \n\n\n\nMarried for over 34 years\, her husband David assists when not working as a marketing executive. He also helps motivate her dreams\, fixes what the goats and donkeys break\, mends fences\, and more.  His Ph.D. in environmental economics adds to their love of land. Through their travels\, Zucker has found inspiration to do more. Their 30-year-old twins and her grandson frequent the farm to relax and become inspired. Her farm is also home to their 1803 historic home\, which she has been restoring over the past seven years.  \n\n\n\nThe webinar is free to attend but pre-registration is requested by submitting this fillable form.\n\n\n\nWHEN: Thursday\, Aug. 20\, 10-11 a.m.\n\n\n\nWHERE: Via Teams\, please register by submitting this fillable form\n\n\n\n\n
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