Just a short drive out of Winnipeg Manitoba you'll find L'Aventure Country Adventure, a petting zoo started by Lynne Robert with a lot of support from family and friends.

Lynne began the business so she could work and still be at home for her family. Her main target market is the French immersion schools in the area, which have a need for school outings with a French component. That, plus her love of children and animals made the zoo a natural choice for Lynne.

Petting farms are part of the agri-tourism industry, which includes farm-based B&B's, roadside markets, 'fee' fishing and horseback riding.

Once Lynne finished her business plan she focused on promotion. She contacted all the Francophone schools to promote the farm and followed up with
information packages. She also had a large highway sign made to attract passers' by.

Lynne's upgrading her knowledge of the animals in the zoo in order to add more to the tour information.

She's also planning to customize her tours for the various age groups that visit the farm.

Increasing demand from urban audiences had made agri-tourism an emerging industry in Alberta.

Lynne's start up costs were about ten thousand dollars, plus all the free labour from family and friends. Right now she charges four dollars per person for the tour but intends to raise the fee to five dollars.

Lynne's looking at redoing her promotional material to include more pictures and attract more volume. In the long run, Lynne would like to include animal therapy for the elderly in her roster of services.