Their aim was to publicize the plight of the family farmer and create a positive image for agriculture with the next generation of urban voters and consumers. The art consisted of large sculptures made from hay bales and other farm crops. One of the tour's sponsors, Farm Again, is an organization that seeks to match beginning farmers with retiring farmers to ensure that land is kept in family-sized agricultural production. Others involved in sponsoring the project included Cornell Cooperative Extension, the local Farm Bureau, and the Dutchess County tourism agency. This type of tour as part of an overall regional public education strategy is an example of comprehensive organization and far-reaching goals.
Archeological sites are usually too fragile to become the focus of regular tours by the public.
However, many farms have done well with re-creations of a former era. They range from offering food, drink, and overnight accommodations to sportsmen, to birthday parties, weddings, and company picnics, to Halloween festivals. To put on an annual festival or pageant open to the public may be beyond the scope of all but the largest farm entertainment businesses. Individual farms often participate in a countywide or regional festival with significant government and organizational sponsorship. A few farms are now hosting 700 to 1000 visitors per day for their unique offerings.