Our staff offer presentations and host workshops, trainings, and mixers across the region with local and regional partners.

What’s happening

Farm Succession Planning webinar series
Thursdays, January 9 – January 30, 2025
11:00am-1:00pm
Virtual
Register

• Free live webinar series for transitioning farmers and junior-generation farmers to learn the basics of succession planning, including how to get started, where to find advisors and additional resources, ask questions, and get help. All generations, including family and non-family members, who may play a role in the farm’s future are encouraged to attend. Farmers from across New England welcome! Instructors include Land For Good staff Mike Ghia, Vermont Field Agent, guest attorney, and financial specialist. Hosted by Land For Good.

Land Ownership Readiness Course, Cohort 1
Saturday, January 11, 9:00am-12:00pm
Thursday, January 30, 6:30-8:00pm
Tolland Agricultural Center, Vernon, CT and Virtual

• New course for underserved producers, including socially disadvantaged producers, in Connecticut. This course will prepare farmers to purchase farm land and introduce them to the entire process of a real estate transaction. The course does not assume farmers have prior experience or knowledge with property acquisition or ownership, and there are no prerequisites for this course. The purpose of the course is to introduce farmers to key concepts, and raise awareness of the broad range of issues, concerns, challenges and obligations connected to farmland acquisition and ownership. With this introduction, farmers will develop a checklist of important criteria and an inventory of helpful resources to navigate the process of buying farmland. Will O’Meara, our Connecticut Field Agent, will facilitate the two course modules happening on the dates listed, “How to Search for Farmland in CT using Important Criteria for a fam business” and “Tools for Reducing Cost of Ownership.” Hosted by UConn Extension.

Planning for Your Farm’s Future, Part 1
Maine Agricultural Trades Show
Tuesday, January 14, 2025
1:00-2:00pm
Augusta Civic Center, Community Drive,  Augusta, ME
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• A presentation for farmers covering the seven key components of a farm succession plan ranging from management transfer to retirement planning to family communication. Kate Turcotte, Land For Good’s Maine Field Agent, will discuss strategies for identifying a successor for farms operating without an heir, strategies for success, and how to build a team of advisors that can turn your succession plan into a reality. The goal is to provide a broad overview of the process and to identify resources and next steps. Stick around for Part 2 of this session, the Farmer Panel hosted by Maine Farmland Trust, where you’ll hear other farmers’ personal successes and challenges in their farm succession journey, and consider the next steps you can take for your own process. Co-hosted by Maine Farmland Trust and Land For Good.  

Keynote Address
Connecticut River Watershed Farmers Alliance Annual Meeting
Wednesday, January 15, 2025
10:00am-2:00pm
Billings Farm & Museum, 69 Old River Rd, Woodstock, VT 
Register

• Annual meeting for Vermont and New Hampshire farmers. Mike Ghia, Land For Good’s Vermont Field Agent will deliver the Keynote Address about farm succession within the broader context of the future of agriculture in the Connecticut River Valley. Additional topics include Quality Forage Production, Conservation Tillage: 10 years of Strip- and Reduce-tillage, Ag Plastic Recycling and speakers Secretary Tebbets (VT) and Secretary Jasper (NH). Hosted by Connecticut River Watershed Farmers Alliance.

Annual Winter Farmer Meeting
Saturday, January 18, 2025
1:00-3:00pm
Town Hall Auditorium, 2 Jabish Street, Belchertown, MA

• Local farmers and landowners are invited to an informative afternoon of speakers. Kathy Ruhf, Land For Good’s Senior Advisor, will give an overview of Land For Good’s services specifically highlighting succession planning and the transition from one generation to the next. Zoraia DeJesus Barros from the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service will speak on 2025 conservation and climate smart programs and grants offered by the agency. Information from the USDA Farm Service Agency will also be available. Hosted by Belchertown Agricultural Commission.

Farm Succession Info Night – New Hampshire
Thursday, January 23, 2025
5:00-8:00pm
Stepping Stones Farm, 19 Putnam Road, Temple, NH
Register

• Free workshop and dinner for NH transitioning farmers and junior generation farmers to learn the basics of farm succession planning, how to get started, and where to find support. All generations, including family and non-family members, who may play a role in the farm’s future are encouraged to attend. Dinner is included. Presentation by Kali Lucey, New Hampshire Field Agent. Hosted by Land For Good.

Monadnock Winter Farmer Gatherings
Thursday, January 23, 2025
5:00-8:00pm
Hannah Grimes Center for Entrepreneurship, 25 Roxbury Street, Keene, NH
Register

• An opportunity for farmers in the Monadnock Region to connect and engage in peer to peer learning with facilitated conversations and a potluck dinner. We’ll provide the main, you bring the sides! Families are welcome and some children’s activities will be provided. Representative’s from the region’s agricultural service providers, including Land For Good, will participate as well. Hosted by Cheshire County Conservation District.

Farm Succession School – Massachusetts
Mondays, January 27, February 24, March 17, 2025
9:30am-3:00pm
Taunton Public Library, Taunton, MA
Register

• Three-day winter course for senior Massachusetts farmers who are ready to dig in and start building their plan. This curriculum is designed to help farmers think through the many aspects of succession planning, clarify vision and goals, get next steps on paper, and review necessary documents to provide for a smooth transition. There is also homework and assistance available between sessions. Each session includes ample time to share and learn from other farmers facing similar questions. Farmers do not need to have an identified successor to participate in this course. The fee is $100 per farm, including all materials and support between classes. Because of the funding resource for this series only farmers located in Massachusetts can sign up for this course. Hosted by Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources and Land For Good.

Farm Succession School – Maine
Wednesdays, January 29, February 26, March 19, 2025
9:30am-3:00pm
Maine Farm Bureau Office, Augusta, ME
Register

• Three-day winter course for senior farmers who are ready to dig in and start building their plan. This curriculum is designed to help farmers think through the many aspects of succession planning, clarify vision and goals, get next steps on paper, and review necessary documents to provide for a smooth transition. There is also homework and assistance available between sessions. Each session includes ample time to share and learn from other farmers facing similar questions. Farmers do not need to have an identified successor to participate in this course. The fee is $100 per farm, including all materials and support between classes. Hosted by Land For Good.

Land Ownership Readiness Course, Cohort 2
Saturday, February 8, 1:00pm-4:00pm
Thursday, February 27, 6:30-8:00pm
UConn Extension, Farmington, CT and Virtual
Register

• New course for underserved producers, including socially disadvantaged producers, in Connecticut. This course will prepare farmers to purchase farm land and introduce them to the entire process of a real estate transaction. The course does not assume farmers have prior experience or knowledge with property acquisition or ownership, and there are no prerequisites for this course. The purpose of the course is to introduce farmers to key concepts, and raise awareness of the broad range of issues, concerns, challenges and obligations connected to farmland acquisition and ownership. With this introduction, farmers will develop a checklist of important criteria and an inventory of helpful resources to navigate the process of buying farmland. Will O’Meara, our Connecticut Field Agent, will facilitate the two course modules happening on the dates listed, “How to Search for Farmland in CT using Important Criteria for a fam business” and “Tools for Reducing Cost of Ownership.” Hosted by UConn Extension.

Farm Succession Info Night – Rhode Island
Tuesday, February 18, 2025
6:00-8:00pm
Rhode Island Farm Bureau Office, West Greenwich, RI
Register

• Free workshop open to all farmers to review basic components of succession planning and discuss management transfer, family communication, and how to identify a team of advisors to be better prepared to take the next steps. Presentation by Deanna Levanti, Southeastern New England Field Agent, Land For Good. In partnership with Land & Sea Together.

Land Ownership Readiness Course, Cohort 3
Saturday, March 8, 1:00pm-4:00pm
Thursday, March 27, 6:30-8:00pm
CT Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT and Virtual
Register

• New course for underserved producers, including socially disadvantaged producers, in Connecticut. This course will prepare farmers to purchase farm land and introduce them to the entire process of a real estate transaction. The course does not assume farmers have prior experience or knowledge with property acquisition or ownership, and there are no prerequisites for this course. The purpose of the course is to introduce farmers to key concepts, and raise awareness of the broad range of issues, concerns, challenges and obligations connected to farmland acquisition and ownership. With this introduction, farmers will develop a checklist of important criteria and an inventory of helpful resources to navigate the process of buying farmland. Will O’Meara, our Connecticut Field Agent, will facilitate the two course modules happening on the dates listed, “How to Search for Farmland in CT using Important Criteria for a fam business” and “Tools for Reducing Cost of Ownership.” Hosted by UConn Extension.

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