Nichols Volunteer Fire Department Hall, 106 W. River Rd, Nichols, NY 13812, September 26 & 27, 2024
Not always the easiest conversation to have around the dinner table, but certainly an important one, is about planning for the future of your farm. Will you be able to transfer ownership to the next generation in your family? If the next generation doesn’t plan to remain in farming, who will take over? Will you want to preserve your land so it stays in agriculture? There are so many questions, so we are planning an educational program to assist you in this process, even if you are just beginning to consider your future. We will feature families that have completed the process; ones in the beginning stages; and some in the absolute middle of it. They will describe their experiences and provide insights into the ‘team’ of peers, professionals, legal advisers, accountants, and more, that have been most helpful to their success. We will look at transfers that haven’t worked out, and learn from those experiences, too. Not all farm transfers are between family members these days, and we will have farmers that can describe their experiences and offer advice for a successful non-family transfer.
While the planning is just getting underway, Ted LeBow, CEO, Kitchen Table Consultants, Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, and last year’s NODPA Field Days keynote speaker, has enthusiastically agreed to present. Jen Miller, Farm Services Director, NOFA-VT, will share her knowledge on the topic, too. We will have much more information on the workshops, presenters, and farmer panels in the May NODPA News and online.
Not all sessions will be related to farm transfer, we will also drill down on the trend of Beef on Dairy, especially as the price for beef has been rising, and this could be an area of additional income for farmers. More information will be coming soon.
We are fortunate to be able to offer two farm tours, both of which have gone through the generational transfer process. Thursday morning’s tour will be at Madeline Poole’s farm in Owego, NY. Madeline and her husband have recently taken over her family’s farm and will be happy to share their experiences, while raising a young family at the same time. The Friday afternoon farm tour will be at Engelbert Farms in Nichols, NY. In recent years, sons Joe and John Engelbert have assumed full-time management of the farm with parents Kevin and Lisa continuing to work there. Lisa started and manages the Engelbert Farms Store. The family will share their generational transfer experience with us all.
There will be a trade show of organic dairy industry professionals; plenty of time to learn more about their products and services and get your questions answered. There will be plenty of opportunities to catch up on all the news and gossip from old and new friends, while enjoying delicious meals and endless coffee.
Sponsorship and Tradeshow information will be going out in April. Please contact Nora Owens, NODPA Field Days Coordinator, if you have questions or comments: noraowens@comcast.net, or call 413-772-0444.
Don't miss out on the opportunity to learn from experts and get practical advice on how to transfer your farm to the next generation or a non-relative. Save the date and join us in September in Nichols, NY. See you in September!
