Farmers offering on-site vacation rentals to combat rising costs

PACIFIC, Mo. – As farmers across the country face rising costs, some are turning to tourism to bring in money beyond their traditional agricultural operations.

At Lynette Ralph's horse ranch in Missouri, vacationers can spend the night in a small cabin, wake up to views of the horses and get a firsthand look at ranch life.

Guests can explore the property, pet and feed the horses or pay extra for horsemanship and riding lessons.

"You have access to the farm life, the horses, the barns," Ralph said.

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A horse looks out from its stall at Lynette Ralph's ranch in Pacific, Missouri. (Olivianna Calmes)

For Ralph, welcoming guests is about more than offering a unique getaway. The income from offering short-term vacation rentals on site has allowed her to keep her ranch operating.

"If I didn't have the short-term rentals associated with the riding program, I would have to probably liquidate, sell the horses, sell the property," she said.

Airbnb and American Farmland Trust are launching a new grant program to help farmers earn extra income through tourism, the organizations told Fox News exclusively.

According to USDA data cited in Airbnb's report, households associated with intermediate farms, a category of smaller operations where farming is the principal operator's primary occupation, reported a median loss of approximately $2,800 from farming in 2024.

The short-term rental cabin at Lynette Ralph’s horse ranch in Pacific, Missouri. (Olivianna Calmes)

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David Haight, vice president of programs at American Farmland Trust, a national nonprofit dedicated to protecting farmland and supporting farmers, said finding additional sources of income could help some farm families navigate financial challenges.

"Many families are looking for ways to diversify income, and so bringing people out to the farm or ranch for some is a way to help bring in other dollars," Haight said.

Lynette Ralph stands with a horse at her ranch in Pacific, Missouri. She says income from her existing short-term rental helps her maintain the property. (Olivianna Calmes)

Demand for farm stays is growing, according to Airbnb, which reported that online searches increased 61% during the first half of 2026 compared with the same period last year.

The company says the typical farm stay host earned approximately $8,000 in 2025, while U.S. farm stay hosts collectively earned nearly $120 million. Those figures represent hosting earnings, not necessarily profits after expenses.

A donkey rests in a grassy field at Gilda Lyon's 6 Ponds Farm in Morganton, Georgia. (Gilda Lyon)

In Georgia, farm stay host Gilda Lyon said income from her existing rentals has allowed her to build additional cabins and invest in her farm.

The money helped her build a greenhouse, start selling herbs and maintain blueberry plants.

"The extra income actually has allowed me to invest, in many improvements and to expand the opportunities available for guests," Lyon said.

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Airbnb and American Farmland Trust are launching a new grant program offering farmers and ranchers up to $10,000 to start or expand farm stays. Applications open in November. (Fox News)

Airbnb and American Farmland Trust's new "Farm to Stay" Grant Program will award approximately 25 to 30 grants of up to $10,000 each, with applications opening in November.

Haight said the grants may not cover every expense associated with welcoming visitors, but could help farmers in other ways, such as assisting in renovating barns for events, installing fencing or preparing accommodations for overnight guests.

The interior of an overnight rental cabin at Lynette Ralph's horse ranch in Pacific, Missouri. (Olivianna Calmes)

The benefits could also extend beyond individual farms. Haight said visitors may spend money at nearby restaurants, shops and other businesses, bringing additional tourism dollars into rural communities.

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Ralph said welcoming guests has allowed her to continue sharing her passion for horses while maintaining the property she loves.

"The short-term rental has totally facilitated my being able to stay here and do the things that I love," she said.

Olivianna Calmes joined Fox News in 2024 as a Multimedia Reporter based in St. Louis, Missouri.