Orange County Farm Asset Protection Strategies: Safeguarding Agricultural Legacies for Future Generations
Event Details
Date
November 17, 2023
Time
10:00am - 2:30pm
Location
CCE Orange County
18 Seward Ave, Ste 300
Middletown, NY 10940
Host
CCE Orange County
Steve Hadcock
518-380-1497
email Steve Hadcock
Event Registration
Friday, November 17th from 10:00am to 2:30pm
Nicole Tommell and Steve Hadcock will host a workshop with CCE Orange on various farm asset protection strategies. Nicole is a Farm Management Specialist with the Central New York Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops Team. Steve Hadcock is a Beginning Farmer specialist with the Capital Area Agricultural and Horticultural Program. Nicole and Steve have many years of experience working with farm families on farm management and estate planning topics.
Topics included are:
- How can I use my current records to gauge how well my business is doing? Various suggestions will assist you in looking at your records differently.
- What can I do to retain employees? Ideas will be shared on how to get new employees off to a good start. Also, ideas on how to help retain employees as well.
- Am I ready to consider diversifying my business? Thoughts on how to approach evaluating the diversification of your farm business will be shared.
- When and how do I start the succession process? It is never too early to begin discussing farm succession/transfer. Topics will be covered to help you feel confident to begin the process for your business. Shared topics may help you with your process if you have already started.
Morning refreshments and lunch will be provided. Each participant will receive written materials and a flash drive containing various resources.
The workshop will be held on Tuesday November 17th at the CCE Orange County Office, 18 Seward Ave, Ste 300, Middletown, NY 10940.
Register here, cost is $10: Register here
For more information on how to register,
contact Nathaniel Lartey at nl498@cornell.edu or 845-344-1234 Ext 251 or (C): 917-635-9966.
For more information about the workshop content, contact Steve Hadcock.
Steve may be reached at seh11@cornell.edu or 518-380-1497.
Agenda
10:00 am - Welcome/ Introductions
10:15 am -Farm Management Records/ Reports
- Farm Financial Worksheet
- Case study
- Center for Farm Financial Score Sheet
- Participants will work individually on the case example and then discuss either in small groups or whole group discussions.
- Budgeting/ Cashflow /enterprise budgeting/Projections
11:00 am - Onboarding and Retention of Employees
- Onboarding Employees - basic requirements of documentation, safety videos - NYCAHM, Sexual harassment, job descriptions
- Risk and how to avoid it.
11:45 am - Lunch / Networking
12:30 pm - Diversification Opportunities (Tools to Evaluate a proposed business opportunity)
- Partial Budgeting Case Study
- Strengths/ Weaknesses (SWOT Analysis for the example business)
- Open Round Table Discussion on the SWOT
1:15 pm - Succession/Transition Planning
2:00 pm - Local Topics (30 minutes) round table discussion from producers
2:30 pm - Wrap up/ adjourn

Upcoming Events
Ag Labor Road Show IX
December 1, 2025 : Save the Date! - Ag Labor Roadshow Webinar 1
In addition to the in-person Ag Labor Roadshow program in our region on December 9, two webinars are scheduled for December 1 and December 22. Each webinar will focus on different program content that is different from the in-person sessions. These webinars are an added benefit to program registration.
December 9, 2025 : Save the Date - Ag Labor Road Show In-Person Event (Greenwich, NY)
Greenwich, NY
The Roadshow delivers essential updates on labor law, regulations, and workforce best practices—tailored for farm owners, managers, and ag service providers. Sessions also focus on practical strategies to boost communication, strengthen retention, and build a positive workplace culture.
The in-person session for Eastern NY is December 9 - Elks Lodge, Greenwich, NY - full day in person session
Additional in-person sessions are:
December 10 - Hilton Garden Inn, Watertown, NY, December 17 - Cornell AgriTech, Geneva, NY, December 18 - Genesee Community College, Batavia, NY
December 22, 2025 : Save the Date! - Ag Labor Roadshow Webinar 2
In addition to the in-person Ag Labor Roadshow program in our region on December 9, two webinars are scheduled for December 1 and December 22. Each webinar will focus on different program content that is different from the in-person sessions. These webinars are an added benefit to program registration.
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