People who grew up on Kansas farms knew them as places that demanded hard work, but now the state is promoting them as places for family fun.

It may be a little hard for some Kansans to think of farms as “tourist destinations.” But as the number of Americans living on farms dwindles and urban populations go up, a day or week in the country experiencing farm life seems to be gaining new appeal.

A story in Sunday’s Journal-World focused on a farm near Overbrook that uses a turn-of-the-century stone barn and U-pick crops to attract visitors. The crops span the seasons from apples to asparagus to pecans. There also are animals to pet and fish to catch in one of the ponds.

It’s sort of a step back in time, a chance to slow down a bit and enjoy nature and some Kansas scenery. It’s an opportunity for children who have spent their lives in the city to pet some animals and learn what farm life is all about.

No wonder state officials are looking at agri-tourism as a possibility to supplement farm incomes and feed the state’s economy.

Anyone who was born and raised in Kansas surely has been confronted by misperceptions of the state by those who live elsewhere. Although some of that image may be gone now, it wasn’t that long ago that people expected cowboys, American Indians and herds of cattle still to be roaming freely across the prairie. Perhaps inspired by the “Wizard of Oz,” many outsiders expected violent tornados to be almost a daily occurrence in the state.

Those images aren’t exactly accurate, but if they feed the nostalgia that feeds agri-tourism, so much the better. The Prairie Rose ranch, near Wichita serves up a full helping of cowboy culture for its visitors. Guests can take a wagon ride before pulling wooden benches up to long wooden tables for a chuck-wagon meal. After dinner, they’re entertained by the same chaps-clad crew that served their family-style meal, singing songs right out of a Gene Autry western.

That’s what a lot of city folks call “getting away.” It’s fun; it’s relaxing; it’s certainly a change of pace from their rushed city lifestyles.

Driven largely by the challenge of making a living by farming alone, many Kansas farmers have started to tap into this tourism market. Whether its corn mazes, hay rides or hunting trips, they are hoping to attract people who want to experience a little Kansas-style fun.

And why not? Kansas is said to be among the top 10 sunniest states in the country. There are plenty of great days to get outside and enjoy a rural adventure.

What does Kansas have to offer tourists? Apparently more than we realized.