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For more information contact mark.a.kinders@uwrf.edu or brenda.k.bredahl@uwrf.edu.

Returning to the Farm Workshop to be Held

By Melissa Klein
UWRF University Communications

NOV. 30, 2007--For some college students, graduation does not always mean finding a new job as some of them are faced with the option to return to their family farm. With a new generation added into the family business, sometimes conflicts result from the transition process.

To help deal with transition issues and to help a farm family partnership succeed, the University of Wisconsin-River Falls will host a Returning to the Farm Workshop over two weekends in 2008.

The workshop, Jan. 25-26 and Feb. 15-16, is designed for young adults and their families. It will focus on transition realities, work and life with multiple generation farm families, and farm and business arrangements that fit into business and personal goals.            

Gregg Hadley, an assistant professor of agricultural economics and farm management specialist at UWRF, said there are benefits in attending the workshop. "The workshops gets families thinking about issues before forming the partnership." He also said participants will learn about financial and legal issues along with business and interpersonal communication.

The program will provide general information for entry into an existing farm operation and offer an opportunity for students and their families to discuss issues related to farm transfer. Participants will also receive a resource packet with worksheets, exercises and pertinent information.

Workshops topics will provide family members the opportunity to discuss farm transfer issues, develop an understanding of farm succession financial and legal issues, learn estate-planning tools, and develop plans for the future. Attendees will get a good start on their own farm succession plan at the workshop.

Expert presenters at the workshop include Hadley; Bob Cropp, agriculture agent, Pepin County UW Extension; Carl Duley, agriculture agent, Buffalo County UW Extension; Phil Harris, farm law specialist, UW Cooperative Extension; Joy Kirkpatrick, outreach specialist, UW Center for Dairy Profitability; Nate Splett, professor of agricultural economics, UWRF; Juliet Tompkins, agricultural economics instructor, UWRF; Jenny Vanderlin, information processing consultant, UW Center for Dairy Profitability; and Jon Zander, agriculture agent, Trempealeau County.

The cost for the workshop is $300, which includes up to four participants. Additional participants are $50 each.

The Returning to the Farm program is sponsored by UWRF, UW Cooperative Extension, and the UW Center for Dairy Profitability.

For more information on this program, contact Hadley at (715) 425-3188 or by email gregg.hadley@uwrf.edu .

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