Transferring the Farm Workshop Series Offered
By Holly Young, Cooperative Extension
January 23, 2008
A key to keeping family farms in New England is to help farmers successfully
transfer their farming operations to the next generation. Starting in February,
farm families can learn the ins and outs of farm transfer in a workshop series
offered in two New England locations.
Three workshops were designed to address different stages of farm transfer,
from an introduction where families are just starting to consider a farm transfer
to a session for those that have been thinking about a farm business transition
for a while. The workshops will be held at the Lake Morey Inn in Fairlee, Vermont,
or at The Publick House in Sturbridge, Massachusetts.
“An Introduction to Transferring the Farm” takes place Feb. 6 in Sturbridge
at the Publick House and Feb.13 at the Lake Morey Inn. This day-long workshop
covers the basics farm families need to consider when transitioning the farm
from one generation to the next. Speakers will include University Extension
specialists, local attorneys, farm family business consultant/licensed social
worker, land trust and land link personnel, and farmers.
“Moving Your Farm Transfer Forward” will offered on March 10 at the Lake
Morey Inn in Lake Morey and March 11 The Publick House in Sturbridge. In this
day-long workshop, meant to help answer questions as families move forward
with the estate/business transition plan for their farms, will feature a nationally-recognized
attorney and local expert will focus on Medicaid/health care planning and business
agreements.
“Keeping the Farm Transfer Ball Rolling” will take place April 2 at the
Lake Morey Inn and April 3 at the Sturbridge location. This half-day session
will help farm family members create and/or review an action plan to keep their
farm transfer planning rolling.
Speakers include Dave Gott, licensed social worker and family consultant, and
Kathy Ruhf and Bob Bernstein from Land For Good, Inc., a nonprofit offering
assistance (including farm transfer planning) to owners of working lands across
the region. They will help participants hone in on their goals, get a fresh
approach to the tasks at hand, and go home with a renewed sense of direction.
The early registration fee for the February and March workshops is $20 per
person ($30 for late registration) and includes a workshop packet and lunch.
The April workshop is $15 ($25 late registration) and includes a workshop packet.
For a brochure, visit www.uvm.edu/landlinkvt or contact the Center for Sustainable
Agriculture at (802) 656-0233 or (802) 656-5459. Anyone requiring special accommodations
or scholarship help to attend, should call (802) 656-0233. New Hampshire residents
can contact UNH Cooperative Extension Specialist Mike Sciabarrasi at 2-3234.
The workshops are offered with funding support from the Northeast Center for
Risk Management Education and the USDA Risk Management Agency and are coordinated
by partnerships with Land Link Vermont at UVM's Center for Sustainable Agriculture;
Land for Good, Inc.; and University Cooperative Extension Systems of Connecticut,
Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
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