Assessing Your Assets

Start With What You Have

Begin with assessing the potential attractions that already exist on your property, rather than spending money on creating something new. Below is an inventory checklist to help you identify and list your current assets; you will refer to this list as you evaluate different options and ideas throughout this workbook.

Physical Resources

When assessing physical resources, be aware of the safety issues involved. To avoid accidents, water resources should be roped off.

Land Resources: list what you have (deeded, leased private property, state & federal allotments, rangeland, woodland, hay meadows, cropland, riparian/wetlands, acreage, location proximity, elevation, topography, location of feed-grounds, etc.)
Climate: consider how weather patterns, temperature, etc. will affect what types of activities you might provide:
- Temperature (monthly variations; length of growing season)
- Precipitation (monthly distribution)
- Snow (ground cover periods and accumulation depth)
Developments and Improvements (buildings, fences, corrals and working facilities, equipment, road and trails, etc.)
Other attractions: list those things that might enhance your operation to a visitor, such as wildlife, streams, ponds, fishing, livestock, proximity to natural or man-made points of interest, etc.

Operations and Management

Owner/Manager strengths and goals: list those intangible assets that can assist you in a farm/ranch recreation operation (e.g., "people person," marketing ability, knowledge or special skills such as horse riding, livestock management, cooking, knowledge about historical sites in the area, etc.).
Family Strengths and Resources: list those skills and strengths that family members add.

Activities

List activities you do on your operation that might appeal to the public. Remember, what seems routine to you may be considered unusual and interesting to the non-farm public. Be free with your ideas in this section: you'll evaluate them later. Some activity examples might include: cattle drives, calving or lambing, trail rides, roadside produce stands, machinery operations (harvesting, planting, cultivating), or on site food processing.

People Resources

Rate the following based on characteristics important to a successful farm/ranch recreation operation (1=limiting factor, 5=asset for success).

		1	2	3	4	5
Staff (family or hired): Are they friendly, confident, tolerant of strangers/guests: Have special talents/abilities, etc.?	Name:
	Name:
	Name:
	Name:
Paid Assistants: Are they committed to working with you to make a successful venture?	Accountant:
	Attorney:
	Lender/Financer:
	Consultant:
Neighbors: Will they allow bordering access? Any conflicts? Supportive of recreation options?
Sheriff and deputies: Are they supportive of proposals or suspicious of outsiders?
Game Warden & Biologists
Government officials and regulators (local, state, federal): Do they understand and support your effort?
Economic Development Staff (local, county, regional, state): Do they understand and support your effort?
Business & Tourism Associations:

Wildlife Inventory:

As you complete this inventory, you will want to add as much detail as possible, including total count, ratios of male/female, trends, locations, size, age, condition, behavior, habitat, etc. This may take considerable time but will be necessary if you intend to build an enterprise around wildlife. You will want this information if you are considering an enterprise to attract wildlife viewers, photographers, or hunters. (Check with the California Department of Fish and Game on hunting of all species as to dates, permits, licenses, etc.).

BIG GAME
	Antelope
	Whitetail Deer
	Mule Deer
	Elk
	Moose
	Bighorn Sheep/Mountain Goat
	Black Bear
	Mountain Lion
SMALL GAME
	Rabbit/Hare
	Red, Grey & Fox Squirrels
	Rock Chuck
FURBEARERS
	Beaver/Mink/Muskrat
	Badger
	Bobcat
	Weasel
PREDATORS
	Coyotes
	Raccoon
	Red Fox
	Wolf
	Porcupine
	Skunk
RODENTS
	Prairie Dogs, Ground Squirrels
GAME BIRDS
	Turkey
	Grouse
	Partridge
	Pheasant
	Mourning Dove
WATERFOWL
	Geese
	Ducks
	Cranes
OTHER BIRDS
	Songbirds
	Long Birds (black birds, falcons, hawks, etc.)

This Fact Sheet was adapted by Desmond Jolly, Cooperative Extension agricultural economist and director, UC Small Farm Program, from the Agri-tourism Workgroup and Resources, Oregon Department of Agriculture.

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