Put to the tough test

Last week we had visitors here at the Zittrauerhof. We have visitors quite often, whether family, friends, acquaintances or farm guests – there is always something going on here and many people always meet here. But last week a special visit arrived: The Farm Holidays inspection committee.

At least every four years, the member farms of the Farm Holidays organization are visited, inspected and re-categorized. And for us, too, it was that time again. Every farm is a little nervous beforehand, because you never know how the business will be subjectively assessed by these people. But I must say that I am already quite satisfied with what we have here at the farm, how it looks and what we offer our guests, because you also know the background, the work and effort that goes into it :- )

So on Wednesday, a car with the special commission drove up to take a close look at our farm. In the process, the farm’s overall appearance, the infrastructure, the stable, the house, the surroundings, the animals and the rooms are inspected. Also how the business presents itself on the internet, how the offers are written, what a farm file or the info folder looks like – that is also reviewed. The inspections take place according to a specific catalog of requirements, which is intended to describe exactly how many flowers are awarded for which standard.

The performing commission is very critical and tries to find every little mistake from their point of view. The points checked include, for example, whether the sockets are cleaned, the mattresses are of good quality, the bathrooms are up to date, no cobwebs disturb the farm image or no artificial flowers are used as decoration. But of course, the stable, the existing animal species, the children’s playground equipment and the entire farm structure are also inspected.

The inspection committee’s stay lasted three hours until every corner of the farm had been looked at and evaluated. Everything was recorded and evaluated directly on a tablet. In the past, this also took place with paper and pen, but Farm Holidays is also moving with the times. As soon as the inspection is completed, you are informed of the result of the new categorization. Between two and five flowers are awarded. With five flowers, the farm fulfills every luxury with a “wow effect,” which probably only the farm “hotels” can achieve.

I am very happy and satisfied to have received my four flowers again this year and am glad that my family, friends and little helpers support us in order to be able to achieve this result at all.

Thanks also to our guests who write reviews online, because this is also taken into account by the commission.

A special treat for me, however, was that we are the first in this year’s categorization round for “Excellent Children’s Farm” and “Herb Farm.” We are particularly pleased about this; it is a small recognition for the much work and heart and soul that you invest every day – and not just on this one day.

We look forward to welcoming our guests in proven quality to our farm.

Your farm lady Katharina from Zittrauerhof