Training the Next Generation- February 18, 2011
Published on January 27, 2011
On February 18th, the Economic Development Alliance of Southeast Alberta’s Agriculture Committee is hosting Training the Next Generation; an opportunity for the agriculture community to learn effective strategies and techniques when passing on family-run operations to the next generation.
“In the agriculture industry succession occurs often with family-based operations, this is particularly true with farmers, ranchers and greenhouse operators in the region,” said Tracy Heebner, rural business enhancement officer for the EDA. “However, agriculture has undergone dramatic changes over the past few decades; often the business started is not the same as the one being passed on and there are numerous factors for all partners to consider when deciding what is best for the business and for the family.”
Topics of discussion include: surviving the fast pace of an evolving agriculture business, choosing and preparing your successors, ways to integrate new marketing practices with past procedures-including an introduction to social media and online marketing, financial readiness and more.
“Once a successor has been chosen it’s a matter of preparing and effectively planning the transition, a lot of questions can arise during this time. We’ve gathered speakers that have experience in areas such as farm transition management, re-organization options, and planning for the future, all with proven successes in the industry,” said Heebner.
Training the Next Generation is sponsored by TD Canada Trust, Counties of Cypress and Forty Mile, CIBC, Alberta Equestrian Federation and Meyers Norris Penny. The cost is twenty dollars per person - lunch included, and will be held at the Grandstand Room, Cypress Centre from 9:30am- 4pm. Please pay in advance by cash or cheque; cheques can be made payable to the Economic Development Alliance.
To register for the event contact the EDA at 403-488-7015 or go to www.edalliance.ca to learn more on the agriculture industry in southeast Alberta and the business assistance available.