INDIANA, Pa. — Deciding on a succession plan for farms is both vital and difficult. Penn State Extension and PA Farm link are partnering to offer a workshop on March 30 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hoss’s Steak & Seafood House, Indiana, Pa. The workshop is open to any farm group/family, and there is no registration fee, though attendees must pre-register by March 27.
This workshop will provide guidance for how to approach the farm succession planning process, touching on some of the key factors with experienced advisors and educators – communication, legal issues and evaluation of the financial situation.
Workshop program and speakers:
- 9:30 a.m. – Introductions
- 10:00 – How It Has Worked For My Family (Darlene Livingston, PA Farm Link & Mahoning Creek Farm)
- 10:30 – Communication & Thinking About the Future Together (Phil Taylor, AgChoice Farm Credit)
- 11:30 – Lunch – short farm unit breakouts & time with speakers
- 12:30 – Figuring Out the Options & Developing a Timeline of Next Steps (Attorney Robert Clark)
- 1:45 – Financial Analysis & Planning (Juliette Enfield, Penn State Extension)
- 2:45 – Next Steps & Final Comments
- 3:00 – Depart
“If possible, we recommend that several key decision-makers from the family/group attend this workshop,” Sandeen said. “Because a specific farm situation generally requires multiple voices and opinions ‘at the table’ we feel it will be helpful to have at least 2-5 key decision makers learn and discuss the issues together. However, if only one individual is able to attend, they are still more than welcome to participate in the workshop.”
While the target group is farms in Indiana County, anyone from the surrounding area is welcome to participate.
This workshop is being provided free of charge, thanks to USDA/NIFA grant funding. Pre-registration is necessary by March 27 to allow for appropriate accommodations. Plan to purchase lunch at your own expense from the Hoss’s Restaurant, the venue for this workshop.
For more information and to register, contact Extension Educator Andrew Sandeen, 724-465-3880, ats15@psu.edu or go online to http://extension.psu.edu/business/farm/events/farm-succession-planning-workshop.
— Penn State Extension