CANANDAIGUIA, N.Y. — A three-workshop series to help farm business owners and successors prepare to engage with their advisors to implement a transition plan for both management and ownership is offered in three locations. Sessions will be discussion oriented and businesses are encouraged to bring current owners and managers and potential successors. It is often valuable to involve spouses in these discussions.
Topics:
- Critical Business Decisions Farms and Families Must Address for a Smooth Transition
- Evaluating the Financial Viability of a Farm Business for Supporting Future Generations
- Defining Success for Your Farm Business
- Communicating on a Personal and Business Level
- Leading Effective Family Business Meetings
- Resources for Learning About Business Structures
- Tools for Facilitating Business Transitions in Ownership and Management
- Using a Transition Team to Facilitate the Process
Locations, Dates and Times:
Wyoming County Agriculture & Business Center
36 Center Street, Warsaw, N.Y.
Feb. 12, 26, & March 12, 12:30 to 3 p.m.
Registration Contact: lma96@cornell.edu or call 585-786-2251
Riga Town Hall
6460 Buffalo Road, Churchville, N.Y.
Feb. 12, 26 & March 12, 6:30 to 9 p.m.
Registration Contact: jh954@cornell.edu or call 585-753-2565
Cornell Cooperative Extension Ontario County
480 North Main Street, Canandaiguia, N.Y.
March 1, 8 & 15, 6:30 to 9 p.m.
Registration Contact: nea8@cornell.edu or call 585-394-3977
Discussion Leaders:
Joan Sinclair Petzen is a Farm Business Management Specialist with Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Team. Joan has more than 30 years of experience working with farm businesses in the areas of financial and people management. Her passion is helping young people gain the skills needed to effectively manage a farm business.
Anna Richards is a member of the Business Management team in Cornell University’s PRO-DAIRY Program. Prior to joining the PRO-DAIRY team, she worked a farm tax and business consultant, with a focus on business structure, succession planning, asset transfer and preservation, estate planning and long term tax planning. She works with dairy farms on several aspects of business management, including structure and transfer strategies, family business issues, financial performance analysis and financial record keeping for management and also facilitates business focused discussion groups for dairy managers.
Registration for these workshops is $60 per farm or family. Please register by Feb. 7 for the Wyoming or Monroe County locations or by Feb. 23 for the Ontario County location. A more detailed flyer and online registration is available at https://nwnyteam.cce.cornell.edu/events.php.
— Joan Sinclair Petzen
Cornell Cooperative Extension