The project continues to conduct workshops and provide online educational material. The videos continue to be popular, with 4,861 hits over the past several years and 1,474 last year. Top viewing countries include US, Canada, Trinidad, and Ireland. We produced 3 new videos - 1 was a family farm transition, 1 was a non-family transition, and 1 discussed leases.
We took advantage of Attorney Jesse Richardson, who has been very involved in our program and video library, accepting a position with West Virginia University College of Law in August 2014. Mr. Richardson undertook outreach education by conducting 3 workshops that were not part of our initial work plan. We also held 2 workshops in Vermont, 1 in New Hampshire, an introductory session at the NOFA Conference and reached 27 individuals through phone and on-farm consultations. Two scheduled workshops in Maine were cancelled due to low signup. Yet farmers completing interest sheets indicated farm transition as one of their interests. Total contacts for the project was 339.
Evaluations indicate that the participants increased their knowledge of retirement issues, wills and trusts, estate taxes, methods to transfer farm assets, business organization, and medicaid issues. The steps that farmers indicated they were going to do after the workshop were to 1) speak to an ag or extension professional, 2) update or write a will, and 3) discuss transition issues with family members.