# 122: How Agritourism Is Transforming Farming

“I didn’t want to spend my short years on this earth doing things that were insignificant.”

There are few conversations that capture the tension, grit, and innovation happening in agriculture today as honestly as this one. I sat down with Andrew Miller of Tulip Valley Farms, and we went deep into what it means to build a farm business that can withstand modern pressures—urban development, regulatory battles, community perception, and the weight of keeping farmland in production.

Andrew didn’t grow up farming tulips, but he did grow up in Skagit Valley—the iconic Washington landscape known worldwide for its breathtaking flower fields. After years working in tech and feeling increasingly disconnected from meaningful work, he returned home to create something that aligned with his values: building a business with his family, preserving farmland, and inviting the public into an authentic farm experience.

Today, Tulip Valley Farms is one of the most recognizable U-pick tulip farms in the country—and a living example of how agritourism can become a lifeline for small farms navigating a changing world.

In our conversation, we talked about disruption, significance, lawsuits, weather, community pushback, and the courage required to build something new in an old industry.

The Path to Tulip Valley Farms

Andrew’s story starts where many rural stories do—growing up in a tight-knit valley where everybody knows your name and your business. After spending years in a fast-moving tech career, he realized he didn’t want the life he was building. He wanted something that mattered. Something his kids could be proud of.

So he went home.
And he built a tulip farm—despite being colorblind.

Skagit Valley is uniquely suited for bulb production, and Andrew knew something others didn’t: people weren’t just buying flowers—they were craving experiences. He studied agritourism, saw opportunity, and assembled a small group of friends to buy one of the area’s iconic tulip farms. His goal? Create a hands-on, meaningful, immersive farm experience worthy of the hours people spent driving to the valley.

Farming with People in Tow

What makes Andrew’s story powerful is that he isn’t just farming flowers—he’s farming relationships. Agritourism, he says, is not a commodity business. It’s a people business.

Tulip Valley Farms exists so visitors can:
 • learn
 • participate
 • take home field-grown tulips
 • and create memories that stick

Every stem has a story. Every visitor becomes part of the narrative.

But it’s not the easy route. Agritourism requires customer service, hospitality, digital marketing, infrastructure planning, and the patience to answer the same questions a thousand times. And Andrew does it all while raising six kids, juggling off-farm responsibilities, and navigating the unpredictability of weather and equipment breakdowns.

Navigating Regulation, Community Pushback & Policy Battles

One of the most raw parts of our conversation came when Andrew talked about the regulatory side of agritourism.

He’s dealt with:
 • lawsuits from the county
 • inconsistent policy enforcement
 • battles over parking, zoning, and land use
 • tension between production ag and agritourism
 • neighbors frustrated about traffic

He described it plainly: “It’s a punch. Treat it like one.”

But he also talked about the importance of staying steady, remaining factual, and advocating for policies that allow farms to stay financially viable in urban-adjacent areas.

Agritourism, he says, is not the problem—it’s the solution.

Building a Future with Intention

Tulip Valley Farms isn’t built on nostalgia. It’s built on strategy.

Andrew shares how he:
 • compartmentalizes problems
 • uses his business background to guide decisions
 • plans for multiple revenue streams
 • builds strong customer experiences
 • prepares his kids to see both the beauty and the sacrifice of farm life

For him, the heartbeat of this work is significance:
 Creating something that matters.
 Creating something that lasts.
 Creating a life his family can participate in—not just watch from the sidelines.

A Final Word of Hope

I asked Andrew what gives him hope, especially in such a challenging season for farmers. His answer?

Community. Curiosity. Connection.

People are seeking meaningful experiences. They want to understand where their food and flowers come from. They want to reconnect with the land. And those desires open the door for farmers to diversify, innovate, and create businesses that support their families far beyond the commodity markets.

“We need policies, partners, and paying customers,” he said. “If we want farmland to stay farmland, we have to make it profitable.”

Where to Find Andrew & Tulip Valley Farms

Website: tulipvalley.com
Socials: @tulipvalleyfarms
Podcast: Agri IQ
Email: andrew@tulipvalley.com

More from Farming on Purpose

The 8-Hour Marketing Plan is your step-by-step roadmap to a clear, effective strategy—built just for you, in just one day. No more second-guessing or wasted time. Get a plan that fits your business and drives results. Sign up here! 

If you are interested in signing up for the Marketing Routine class, do so here!

If you would like to support the podcast or be a part of the conversation join the Farming On Purpose Facebook group and visit the Farming on Purpose merch page. 

Check out our favorite software tool for online sales!

Thrivecart is a software tool you can use to design online checkouts with every option you can dream up. You can sell physical and digital products, connect to loads of other softwares you use for your website, accepting payments, email marketing, and more. This is the most powerful tool I use and the lowest cost one. I recommend it for anyone who accepts online payments who wants to increase their revenue or average order value. Learn more about what Theivecart can do for your business here: https://backpocketsocial--checkout.thrivecart.com/thrivecart-standard-account/

I may earn affiliate commissions from links on this page.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts!

About the Host of Farming On Purpose, Lexi Wright:

I’m your host, Lexi Wright. I started the Farming on Purpose Podcast from a passion for sharing the future of production agriculture.

 I’m so glad you’re here and I hope you’ll take a moment to join the conversation with me and other listeners on social media. 

Connect with me on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. 

Rate, Review & Follow on Apple Podcasts