About Jane

Jane Eckert founded Eckert AgriMarketing in 2001. A marketing professional with a lifetime of farm experience, Jane dedicates herself to helping farms, ranches, and tourism professionals learn more about agritourism, and how to make it profitable.

Today, Eckert AgriMarketing provides:

• Consulting services to state agencies and private farms
• Education and training ranging from presentations to 3-day workshops
• Tourism planning
• Website design
• Educational manuals, books, and tapes to help farmers and ranchers grow their business.

In February 2008, Jane was named to the Hall of Fame by the North American Farmers' Direct Marketing Assocition. The association had previously honored her with the 2004 Outstanding Leadership Award. That award was presented at the February 2005 NAFDMA conference in Boston. Click here to read about the award, and Jane's history with NAFDMA.

Raised on her family's apple orchard outside of St. Louis, Jane earned a degree in business and went on to executive marketing positions for eighteen years.

As the former Vice President of Marketing of Eckert's Country Store and Farms in Belleville, Illinois, she developed the property into one of the most successful retail and entertainment farms in America. Today it is a top tourist attraction that draws over 500,000 guests annually. As testament to her expertise, the North American Farmers' Direct Marketing Association (NAFDMA) honored her as Farm Marketer of the Year in 2001.

Her professional approach to promotion, advertising, public relations and merchandising gave Eckert's a strong brand identity widely recognized and respected throughout the region. Jane is passionate about saving family farms and ranches. Her consulting services, speeches and workshops can help grow profits for farms across North America.

Read or download Jane's biography here.

Current and Past Professional Affiliations:

• Past President & member of the North American Farmers' Direct Marketing Association

• National Speakers Association of St. Louis

• Missouri AgriTourism Council

• Kansas AgriTourism Advisory Council

• St. Louis Visitors & Convention Bureau

• St. Louis Attractions Association

• Belleville, Illinois Tourism Council

• Southwestern Illinois Tourism and Convention Bureau

Contact Jane to speak at your next meeting or to schedule a consultation.