This episode features a conversation with Tammie Horsfield of Sussex County, fresh off winning an Excellence Award for innovative tourism partnerships. We dig into how Sussex County has created a four-season tourism engine, the strong community networks powering their growth, and the unexpected impact of collaboration between agriculture, tourism, and economic development.Tammie brings decades of experience, contagious curiosity, and a clear love for championing the businesses and farms that make Sussex County special. This is a masterclass in community-driven tourism development.

🧭 What You’ll Learn

• How Sussex County became a four-season destinationFrom ski resorts and snow-making state parks to summer waterparks and fall foliage peaks.

• Why agricultural partnerships are critical to rural tourismAnd how Sussex elevated farms that often get overlooked after “apple-picking season.”

• The behind-the-scenes story of their Excellence AwardBuilt on training programs, ARPA-funded business support, and unprecedented cross-organization collaboration.

• The power of staying curious in a decades-long tourism career Tammie's philosophy: get your hands in the dirt, meet every business, and take something meaningful from every interaction.

• How to create year-round magic when one season steals the spotlight Christmas markets draw crowds, but Sussex has formulas for fall, summer, and spring that work.

• Why relationships matter more than logos Tammie shares why networking is the most valuable ROI of any tourism conference.