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Maryland Agritourism Conference: Family-Farm Profitability in Focus
Agritourism can offer educational and recreational activities for visitors while bringing income to farms, nearby communities and adjacent businesses. At the Maryland Agritourism Conference, the question is how those opportunities can support family-farm profitability over time—and what planning, marketing, policy and research can contribute.
A second conference, with a sharper business focus
The 2026 meeting is the second Maryland Agritourism Conference. Its inaugural edition, held in December 2023 under the theme “Growing Maryland Agritourism,” brought nearly 200 people together to consider what could strengthen agritourism in the state. This year’s theme shifts the emphasis to strategies for improving family-farm profitability.
That framing matters for an event aimed not only at farm operators but also at the tourism professionals, service providers, educators and public- and nonprofit-sector representatives who help shape visitor experiences and business conditions. UMES Extension describes a mix of educational sessions, hands-on workshops and expert panels, with networking and time to visit exhibitors and vendors.
Further reading: Maryland Agritourism Conference | UMES Extension ↗ · Maryland Agritourism Conference – NCAT ↗
The keynote puts farmland and profitability in the same frame
Dr. Terron Hillsman, deputy chief of Soil Science and Resource Assessment at the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, is the announced keynote speaker. His talk, “Preserve and Protect Farmland for Profitability and Long-Term Success,” links conservation to the conference’s business focus.
Hillsman grew up on a small family farm in Carroll County, Tennessee, and began his USDA career as a student trainee in 1992 while studying agriculture at Tennessee State University. His subsequent work included soil conservation, outreach and district-conservation roles in Tennessee, followed by field-operations leadership in Massachusetts. He became Maryland’s State Conservationist in 2015, joined the Senior Executive Service in 2022 and moved into his current deputy chief role in July 2024. His background gives the keynote a direct connection to both farm life and conservation policy.
Maryland Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks, who delivered the 2023 conference keynote, is listed as unable to attend this edition because of a scheduling conflict.
Further reading: Keynote and Featured Speakers | UMES Extension ↗
An optional tour takes the discussion to two operations
The off-site bus tour is scheduled to visit Emily’s Produce in Cambridge and Layton’s Chance Vineyard and Winery in Vienna. The itinerary offers a different way to consider agritourism: through visits to two named Maryland operations rather than sessions at the conference venue.
The tour has its own ticket. UMES says that ticket is required for the tour, tasting, Sunday lunch and transportation. The published schedule gives the destinations but not a departure time or tour duration, so those details are important to confirm before arranging the rest of the day.
Further reading: Maryland Agritourism Conference: Event Schedule | UMES Extension ↗ · Registration Information | UMES Extension ↗
Plan around the ticket deadline and a still-unclear daily schedule
Three days in Cambridge
The conference is scheduled for Nov. 15–17, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina in Cambridge. NCAT’s event listing displays 10 a.m.–noon EST alongside the conference dates; UMES confirms the three-day dates but does not publish day-by-day session hours. Check with UMES before planning around a particular session.
The supplied event information identifies the hotel and city but does not give a street address.
Maryland Agritourism Conference – NCAT ↗ · Maryland Agritourism Conference | UMES Extension ↗ · Maryland Agritourism Conference: Event Schedule | UMES Extension ↗
The listed general-admission deadline has passed
UMES lists general admission at $250 per person, with sales ending Nov. 1. The early-bird rate was $200 per person through Aug. 31. Both stated deadlines had passed as of Nov. 2, 2026; the registration information does not confirm whether sales were extended or whether tickets remain. Advance purchase is required, and walk-ups will not be accepted. Check with UMES before traveling if you do not already have a ticket.
The optional tour costs an additional $75 per person, requires its own ticket and is described as having limited seats; no current availability is stated.
Conference and tour access are ticketed separately
Only ticket holders may enter conference content, sessions, panels, workshops, the reception and meals. A separate UMES tour ticket is required to take part in the tour, tasting, Sunday lunch and transportation. The registration page describes the conference and tour as geared toward adults but does not set a minimum age.
UMES offered a limited number of scholarships for agritourism farmers and ranchers. The application deadline was Oct. 5, which had passed as of Nov. 2.
Getting to the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay
Airports and ground connections
UMES lists Salisbury Regional Airport (SBY) as the closest airport, 38 miles from the hotel, with an estimated drive of about 45 minutes. American Airlines connects SBY with its hubs in Charlotte or Philadelphia. The registration page suggests a taxi, Uber or rental car for the trip to the hotel.
Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) is about 80 miles from the hotel, with an estimated drive of about 1 hour 30 minutes. BayRunner offers daily shuttle service directly between BWI and the hotel and back; check its schedule before booking a flight. Rental cars are another option.
Local directions and access details
The confirmed destination is the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina in Cambridge. The supplied official event information does not provide a street address, local public-transit details, parking information or a specific event entrance. Use the map links to calculate directions from your own starting point; no local transit or parking arrangements are confirmed here.
Maryland Agritourism Conference | UMES Extension ↗ · Maryland Agritourism Conference: Event Schedule | UMES Extension ↗
Before you make a plan
What are the conference dates and published hours?
The conference is Nov. 15–17, 2026. NCAT lists 10 a.m.–noon EST alongside those dates, but UMES does not publish daily session hours; confirm the agenda before planning around a specific session.
Maryland Agritourism Conference – NCAT ↗ · Maryland Agritourism Conference: Event Schedule | UMES Extension ↗
Can I still buy a ticket?
The UMES page lists a Nov. 1 sales deadline for $250 general admission and requires advance purchase with no walk-ups. As of Nov. 2, the deadline had passed, and the page does not confirm an extension or remaining availability; check with UMES.
What does the optional bus-tour ticket cover?
The separate $75 ticket is required for the tour, tasting, Sunday lunch and transportation. The listed stops are Emily’s Produce in Cambridge and Layton’s Chance Vineyard and Winery in Vienna.
Maryland Agritourism Conference: Event Schedule | UMES Extension ↗ · Registration Information | UMES Extension ↗
Is there an age minimum?
UMES describes the conference and tour as geared toward adults but does not publish a specific minimum age.
How can I request a reasonable accommodation?
UMES directs accommodation requests to [email protected].
Location & Google Maps
Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina
Cambridge, Maryland; street address not provided in the supplied sources.
Map search by venue and address. Check the organiser’s entrance details before travelling.