Farm Transition Workshops to take place in Oklahoma

Monday, February 24, 2014

A series of one-day workshops will take place throughout Oklahoma this spring for family farmers and ranchers interested in learning about the components of a successful farm transition.

Managing Farm Transitions: Connecting Landowners, Farmers, and Families will involve four single-day workshops in Oklahoma scheduled for March 24 in Chickasha, March 31 in Claremore, April 7 in Woodward and April 14 in Ardmore. Sessions will cover business and personal goal-setting, financial analysis, human resources, family communications, estate planning, estate taxes and retirement planning.

“Research tells us that fewer than one-third of family businesses survive the transfer from one generation to the next,” said Shannon Ferrell, associate professor of agricultural economics at Oklahoma State University. “These workshops will help farmers and ranchers keep their families farming together.”

The workshop series is hosted by Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service with funding from the USDA Risk Management Agency through the Southern Risk Management Education Center. The workshops are also sponsored by Farm Credit Associations of Oklahoma and the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation. The cost for attendees is $25 for a family of four and includes a lunch, refreshments and two farm transitions workbooks. Additional registrations are $10 per person. To register, contact Kareta Casey at 405-744-9836 or via email to kareta.casey@okstate.edu.