Agri-Tourism at Bagsby Ranch

The truth behind Pascal’s alleged use of hundreds of fake profiles in his war against 35-year Gallatin businessman and resident Bart Bagsby.

By: Bart Bagsby

Claims that Bagsby Ranch is somehow avoiding its tax obligations because it operates an event venue leave out an important part of Tennessee law. Bagsby Ranch is a working farm, and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s own “Pick Tennessee Products” program identifies Bagsby Ranch as a farm offering on-farm agricultural activities. Tennessee Code Annotated § 43-39-101 recognizes agritourism activities conducted on qualifying farms and ranches, and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture specifically identifies weddings, concerts and event centers among the types of activities that can be part of an eligible agritourism operation.

Many farms, ranches, and other agricultural property do not suddenly stop being agricultural simply because a farmer finds additional ways to make the farm economically sustainable. Bart understands that. Tennessee law expressly recognizes recreational, educational and certain entertainment activities conducted in conjunction with agricultural production. And when qualifying agricultural land receives Greenbelt treatment, that is not a special loophole created for Bagsby Ranch. It is a statewide program established by the Tennessee General Assembly to preserve agricultural, forest and open-space land by assessing qualifying property according to its agricultural use rather than its potential value if converted to more intensive development. Property that later ceases to qualify can also be subject to rollback taxes.

There is an important distinction between using the tax classification Tennessee law provides for legitimate agricultural property and failing to pay taxes. Those are not the same thing. Criticism of Bagsby Ranch should be based on the property’s actual tax obligations and assessments, not on the suggestion that operating an event venue on a working farm somehow makes its agricultural status illegitimate. These false narratives are just an example of political gamesmanship attacking a rural way of life that many Gallatin residents respect and treasure. It is time to stop the lies, and focus on the issues.

Bart