Hayride Participation in the Mid-Atlantic States: A Logistic Approach

The primary objective of this study was to develop and econometric model to identify a prospective participant who is likely to participate in the hayride agritourism activity. An Internet survey was conducted in the mid-Atlantic United States to collect information from those who participated in direct marketing, visits to agritourism operations and farm events. This study examined the influence of demographic characteristics on the likelihood of participants to engage in a hayride event during an agritourism visit. A total of 1, 134 respondents from New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania completed the survey. A logit model developed to predict demographic characteristics of participants who are likely to participate in the hayride agritourism activity. Approximately 67% of respondents participated in hayrides during agritourism visits, and based on model results, respondents were more likely to participate if they lived in suburban areas, were male, between age 21 and 50, had a two-year college degree, and had an annual household income between $40, 000 and $59, 999. However, those who lived in urban areas, have lived at their current residence for more than 20 years, were under age 20, and who have a graduate degree were less likely to participate in a hayride agritourism activity. Hence, famers may be able to target these subgroups of general population to improve participation in hayride agritourism activity at their farm.