Deadline Approaching for Farm Transitions Conference

Alva’s Farm Transitions series will take place on the campus of Northwestern Oklahoma State University’s Vinson Hall in the Alabaster Room. Workshops are scheduled for 1 to 8 p.m., Friday, March 27; 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, March 28; 1 to 8 p.m., Friday, April 24; and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, April 25.

Farm Transitions workshop is currently scheduled for Alva. Registration is $200 per family of four, and $100 for each individual attending above that number. The registration fee will cover the cost of workshop materials, refreshments and meals. Farm families are asked to pre-register at least two weeks before the session begins.

Change is the only constant, so the saying goes; help is available, though, for agricultural producers and their families looking to minimize complications and frustration during times of farm transition.

Oklahoma State University’s Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources is offering a series of Farm Transitions workshops designed to help producers and their families understand how to best manage change in farm or ranch enterprises, be it a transfer of ownership from one generation to the next, retirement and everything in between.

“Changes like these are more likely to be successful if groundwork is carefully laid through planning and understanding, combined with clear communications between everyone affected by the decisions,” said Damona Doye, OSU Cooperative Extension farm management specialist.

“To experience the full benefit of the program, participants should attend every session that makes up a complete series,” Doye said. “Dates and times of workshop sessions have been set with the busy schedules of producers and their families in mind.”

To register for the Alva series, contact Kourtney Coats, Woods County Extension Ag Educator, by e-mail at kourtney.coats@okstate.edu or by phone at 580-327-2786.  Registration forms are available at the Woods County Extension Office.  Families may also enroll by mailing the form with the registration fee to the Woods County Cooperative Extension Service, 407 Government Street-Room 11, Alva OK  73717.  The deadline to register is two weeks prior to start of class time.  Enrollment is limited - first come, first served.  Checks should be payable to the Woods County Cooperative Extension Service.

“These workshops offer a chance to look at all pertinent components at one time,” said J.C. Hobbs, OSU Cooperative Extension agricultural economist. “It’s an opportunity to interact with and ask questions of a variety of professional experts in their respective career fields.”

The workshop is sponsored by the division, Southern Region Risk Management Education Center and Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service.

Additional information about the upcoming OSU Farm Transitions workshops is available at http://agecon.okstate.edu/farmtransitions/ on the Internet or by contacting any local Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service county office.

Oklahoma State University, U. S. Department of Agriculture, State and Local governments cooperating.  Oklahoma State University in compliance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal and state laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices, or procedures, and is an equal opportunity employer.