Washington County, Pa. – Farmers gathered Wednesday morning at R&L Cattle Company in East Finley Township for the Washington County Farm Bureau’s annual tour. The event gave growers a chance to voice concerns about increasingly complex regulations governing agritourism and to highlight the critical need for high‑speed broadband in the county’s rural areas.
Regulatory hurdles threaten farm‑based tourism
“It’s becoming very cumbersome,” said Lisa Wherry, board president of the Washington County Farm Bureau. Wherry explained that farms offering hayrides or other tours now often need amusement permits, special licenses, and even tractor‑hook‑up inspections, requirements traditionally applied to fairs and carnivals.
Don Carter, a farm‑bureau board member, echoed the sentiment, noting that farmers are asking local, state and federal officials to simplify the process. “We need guidance to navigate these rules as agritourism takes off,” Carter said.
State Rep. Tim O’Neal (R‑South Strabane) acknowledged past changes to amusement laws that unintentionally pulled farm tours into the regulatory mix. He said he would revisit the issue to determine whether further adjustments are needed. “We’ll have to look into it to see if a fix can be made,” O’Neal said, adding that the matter is not “super controversial.”
Republican state Sen. Camera Bartolotta’s field representative, Eric Cowden, suggested that equine farms’ “Enter At Your Own Risk” signage could serve as a model for other agritourism operations, providing clear safety warnings without imposing overly burdensome permits.
State Rep. Bud Cook (R‑West Pike Run) praised agritourism as a “home run” for the local economy, noting the unique opportunity it gives inner‑city youth a chance to experience farm life.
Broadband remains a pressing rural need
Beyond tourism, the tour’s participants turned their attention to broadband access. “It is still an issue we need to address,” said Carter, noting that while most of Washington County now has high‑speed internet, gaps remain, especially for farms that rely on connectivity for precision agriculture and emergency communication.
Wherry added that lack of cellular service can be a safety hazard for farmers working in remote fields. “If you don’t have any phone service and something happens…,” she trailed off, underscoring the real‑world risks.
County Commission Chairman Nick Sherman described the county’s post‑pandemic effort to use American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to expand broadband. Although the pilot program succeeded in extending service to many households, the cost per home exceeded expectations and many residents opted for satellite providers instead.
“Then it got muddy,” Sherman said, noting that the ARPA money is now exhausted and no new federal funding is on the horizon. He said the state’s Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program will now lead future projects, though he called the county’s earlier broadband initiative “a flop.”
Local farms weigh the future of agritourism
Kathy Logue‑Ross and her husband, Bobby Ross, co‑own the 330‑acre Logue Farm, a fourth‑generation operation that raises 250 beef cattle near Claysville. While they have not yet embraced agritourism, Logue‑Ross said it could be considered “maybe down the road” if additional revenue becomes necessary. “We’ve stayed away from it because we’re so busy with everyday farming,” she explained.
The tour highlighted the delicate balance between preserving traditional farming practices and exploring new income streams. As the agritourism industry grows, Washington County’s growers hope that lawmakers will streamline regulations and that broadband improvements will keep pace with modern agricultural needs.
For now, the farm bureau and its elected allies remain committed to advocating for policies that protect family farms, support rural economies, and uphold the constitutional right of property owners to pursue lawful, profitable enterprises.
Original reporting: Herald-Standard – latest news for Uniontown, Pennsylvania — read the source article.
