Design Your Succession Plan
Design Your Succession Plan "Empowering families to get started on their succession plan."
Online Zoom Series Coming to NYS!
How will your family farm operate in the future when the owner retires or is gone? Are you currently working with another generation who may be questioning their role in the future of the farm or are you yourself questioning your current role?
More than 80% of farm families hope to pass the family farm on to the next generation, but research shows only 30% of family farms survive to the second generation, and only 12% survive to the third generation. A successful transition to the next generation takes careful planning.
To help NYS farm families start their succession planning process, Cornell Cooperative Extension educators will be utilizing a new interactive program designed by North Dakota State University Extension: Design Your Succession Plan. This program provides tools and resources for producers who want to begin the succession planning process.
Participants will have an opportunity to open the lines of communication with family to create a shared vision for the family business. They will also learn to choose and work with professionals such as attorneys, accountants, lenders, insurance agents and tax experts to construct a plan and documents that put the family's vision into action. Attendees will learn through scenario-based learning how to relate real-life experiences to the farm transition process. This webinar series will utilize a "flipped classroom" which requires that attendees complete pre-work prior to each session. This could include watching videos, visiting websites, or completing a handout/worksheet. This pre-work should not take more than 15-20 mins each week, but will enrich your experience during each of the weekly webinars.
"The program will prepare you to envision, communicate, plan, write and shape the legacy of your family farm, as well as save hundreds of dollars by completing these crucial planning steps before visiting with professionals," said Bonnie Collins, Farm Management Educator, CCE Oneida.
This six session Tuesday evening series is being offered via Zoom with an online learning platform for use in-between sessions. Session dates are: 11/2, 11/9, 11/16, 11/30, 12/7 & 12/14. The cost is $100 per farm family and includes a workbook valued at $25. There are scholarships available for veterans. Please choose veteran as your farm category and there will be no charge for participating in this series. There will be follow-up to confirm your veteran status prior to the start of the series. There is also the ability to add additional workbooks at a cost of $25 at registration. Contact Laura Biasillo at lw257@cornell.edu or visit https://tinyurl.com/z5ujstpw for more information. The registration deadline is October 24th to ensure on-time delivery of the workbook.
Event Details
Date
November 2, 2021
Time
6:30pm-8:00pm
Location
Zoom
Cost
Registration : $100.00
Host
Cornell Cooperative Extension
Laura Biasillo
6075845007
email Laura Biasillo
Event Registration
Starting Your Succession Plan
Starting Your Succession Plan
Event Details
Date
November 9, 2021
Time
6:30-8:00
Location
Zoom
Host
Cornell Cooperative Extension
Laura Biasillo
6075845007
email Laura Biasillo
Event Registration
Family Meetings and Conversations
Family Meetings and Conversations
Event Details
Date
November 16, 2021
Time
6:30-8:00
Location
Zoom
Host
Cornell Cooperative Extension
Laura Biasillo
6075845007
email Laura Biasillo
Event Registration
Determining What You Want
Determining What You Want
Event Details
Date
November 23, 2021
Time
6:30pm-8:00pm
Location
Zoom
Host
Cornell Cooperative Extension
Laura Biasillo
6075845007
email Laura Biasillo
Event Registration
The Next Generation & Your Legacy
The Next Generation & Your Legacy

Upcoming Events
New York State Agritourism Conference
November 10 - November 11, 2025 : New York State Agritourism Conference
Saratoga Springs, NY
The first-ever New York State Agritourism Conference, hosted by the CCE Agritourism Program Work Team, is designed to support farms in growing successful visitor experiences. This statewide gathering will feature expert-led sessions, peer networking, and practical tools to help farms expand direct sales, education, hospitality, and entertainment offerings.
Date:
- November 10: A full day of educational sessions targeted at beginning or experienced agritourism operators.
- November 11: A half-day, interactive networking session with fellow attendees.
ASL 104sp Seleccion y organizacion del personal (Staffing and Organizing Your Team) taught in Spanish
November 12, 2025 : ASL 104sp Selección y organización del personal (Staffing and Organizing Your Team) in Spanish
ASL104-SP: Selección y organización del personal (Staffing and Organizing Your Team - impartido en español) ¡Inscripciones abiertas!
En este curso identificamos cómo escribir descripciones de puestos disponibles en el trabajo para atraer a los mejores candidatos. Aprenderá a encontrar empleados con un perfil deseado, cómo entrevistar y seleccionar a las personas adecuadas. Descubrirá cómo completar la documentación de nuevos empleados, la autorización de empleo y la contratación de personal (on-boarding): es decir, cómo efectivamente incorporar nuevos empleados al rancho en una manera exitosa y productiva.
Los temas incluyen:
- Convertirse en un lugar de trabajar preferido
- Planear cuántos y qué trabajadores se necesitan
- Diseñar descripciones de trabajos para un mejor reclutamiento
- Cómo evitar favoritismos y discriminación
- Cómo buscar y entrevistar los nuevos trabajadores
- Cómo decidir a quién contratar
- Y cómo dar una buena bienvenida al nuevo trabajador
Inicio del curso: miércoles, 12 de noviembre de 2025
Discusiones en vivo por Zoom: Cada martes 18 de noviembre - 23 de diciembre, de 1:00 a 2:00 p.m. (hora del Este)
ASL 105 Employee Development and Training
November 17, 2025 : ASL 105: Employment Development and Training
ASL105: Employee Development and Training
Three leadership practices are essential for supervisors: setting clear expectations, employee training and development, and providing performance feedback.
In Employee Development and Training you will learn best practices to plan and conduct training that engages employees, supports retention, and helps ensure great quality work. You will also learn how to create a culture of continuous learning and performance improvement through employee development, coaching, and career planning. This is a 6-week online course, taught in English.
Topics include:
- Planning effective training programs
- Onboarding new employees
- On the job training
- Staff development
- Creating a culture for continuous learning
- Coaching and career planning
Course begins: Wednesday, November 12 Live Zoom discussions: Tuesdays, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM ET beginning November 18 through December 23.
Registration closes November 17 at 5 PM ET.
