Indiana has nearly 300 agritourism destinations from orchards and Christmas tree farms to wineries and breweries, and their popularity continues to grow. These operations are often family owned and operated, and help farmers diversify their income streams. During the 2024 legislative session, I authored legislation to help cut red tape for these families and Hoosiers who would like to start an agritourism business.
Locally, our area is home to several agritourism destinations like the Jasper County Farm Trails, Carpenter Creek Cellars, Fenwick Farms Brewing Co., Kents Cucurbits and more. According to the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, Indiana retains about 70 cents of every tourism dollar spent in the state. It’s clear that agritourism related businesses are not only an economic driver but a great educational resource for Hoosiers of all ages.
As I talked with constituents, I heard concerns about the overly burdensome and strict state regulations in place that made it difficult to obtain necessary permits to operate an agritourism business. To help, I authored legislation to reduce the inspection and permitting process for certain aspects of the business, including certain permitting for tractors, trains and other motor vehicles using less than 40 horsepower.
Under this bill, certain equipment will not need inspections or permits from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, streamlining the operation processes of small agritourism venues.
House Bill 1106 now heads to the governor's desk for consideration. To follow the legislative process, visit iga.in.gov. Many of Indiana agritourism businesses are passed down from generation to generation, and I'll continue to work on ways to support these families and agriculture entrepreneurs on the state level.
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State Rep. Kendell Culp (R-Rensselaer) represents House District 16,
which includes portions of Jasper, Pulaski, Starke and White counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
