Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** agritourism is a growing…

Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** agritourism is a growing industry, as interest in eating locally and understanding the origins of one's food is increasing. Despite the economic benefits of agritourism, IT also brings customers into contact with farm animals and environments, increasing the potential for zoonotic diseases such as salmonella and campylobacter to be transferred from farm animals to visitors. While numerous outbreaks have been tied to agritourism, the factors determining whether a farm has zoonotic pathogens are unclear. The goals of this project are to (i) improve biosecurity on agritourism and (II) reduce agritourism-associatedzoonotic illness and liability risks for agritourism operations in the northeast, northwest, and southeastern united states via the following objectives:objective i:determine the prevalence and genetics (including antibiotic resistance) ofsalmonellaandcampylobacterin animals and environments of agritourism operations located in vermont, oregon, and north carolinaobjective II:identify management practices, animal behaviors, and other risk factors for salmonella and campylobacter spread and transfer on animal agritourism farmsvia surveys of owners and on-site visits/observations and (II) development of an agent-based model for pathogen spread through the environmentobjective III:develop and deliver farmer-focused messaging to reduce the risk of zoonoses and promote animal welfare and management for both animal and human health.expected results: this project will lead to improved on-farm agritourism practices and a decrease in salmonella and campylobacter cases in visitors to agritourism operations in VT, or, and NC.impact: ultimately, this project will support the viability of agritourism, allowing IT to safely connect american families with agriculture.