Technical Communication Quarterly Oct 2025 Open Access

Farm to Forum: Exploring Agritourism as a Site for Tactical Technical Communication

Beth J. Shirley ; Shannon Arnold Montana State University ; Kim Woodring Montana State University ; Dustin Perry

Abstract

This article is the result of a multiyear collaboration between a tech comm professor, agricultural education faculty, an Extension agent, and 12 producers, and explores agritourism as a form of tactical technical communication (TTC), whereby agricultural producers advocate for themselves and their communities through communication about complex food systems with farm visitors. Through interviews, surveys, and observations, we learned what forms of TTC producers are already doing, what research is needed, and what our next steps need to be in supporting their communication goals with regard to agritourism. Our research offers key insights for technical communication practitioners working in Extension or in other capacities where they may be able to train producers, park rangers, or subject-matter experts in other fields who may not yet regard themselves as technical communicators, but who are poised to practice TTC with an attentive audience.

Journal
Technical Communication Quarterly
Published
2025-10-18
DOI
10.1080/10572252.2025.2571216
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Topics
collaborative writing technical communication
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