The first-ever New York State Agritourism Conference, hosted by the CCE Agritourism Program Work Team, is designed to support farms in growing successful visitor experiences. This statewide gathering will feature expert-led sessions, peer networking, and practical tools to help farms expand direct sales, education, hospitality, and entertainment offerings.

Date:

• November 10: A full day of educational sessions targeted at beginning or experienced agritourism operators.
• November 11: A half-day, interactive networking session with fellow attendees.

ASL104-SP: Selección y organización del personal (Staffing and Organizing Your Team - impartido en español) ¡Inscripciones abiertas!

En este curso identificamos cómo escribir descripciones de puestos disponibles en el trabajo para atraer a los mejores candidatos. Aprenderá a encontrar empleados con un perfil deseado, cómo entrevistar y seleccionar a las personas adecuadas. Descubrirá cómo completar la documentación de nuevos empleados, la autorización de empleo y la contratación de personal (on-boarding): es decir, cómo efectivamente incorporar nuevos empleados al rancho en una manera exitosa y productiva.

Los temas incluyen:

• Convertirse en un lugar de trabajar preferido
• Planear cuántos y qué trabajadores se necesitan
• Diseñar descripciones de trabajos para un mejor reclutamiento
• Cómo evitar favoritismos y discriminación
• Cómo buscar y entrevistar los nuevos trabajadores
• Cómo decidir a quién contratar
• Y cómo dar una buena bienvenida al nuevo trabajador

Inicio del curso: miércoles, 12 de noviembre de 2025
Discusiones en vivo por Zoom: Cada martes 18 de noviembre - 23 de diciembre, de 1:00 a 2:00 p.m. (hora del Este)

ASL105: Employee Development and Training

Three leadership practices are essential for supervisors: setting clear expectations, employee training and development, and providing performance feedback. 

In Employee Development and Training you will learn best practices to plan and conduct training that engages employees, supports retention, and helps ensure great quality work. You will also learn how to create a culture of continuous learning and performance improvement through employee development, coaching, and career planning. This is a 6-week online course, taught in English.

Topics include:

• Planning effective training programs
• Onboarding new employees
• On the job training
• Staff development
• Creating a culture for continuous learning
• Coaching and career planning

Course begins: Wednesday, November 12 Live Zoom discussions: Tuesdays, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM ET beginning November 18 through December 23.

Registration closes November 17 at 5 PM ET.

In addition to the in-person Ag Labor Roadshow program in our region on December 9, two webinars are scheduled for December 1 and December 22.  Each webinar will focus on different program content that is different from the in-person sessions.  These webinars are an added benefit to program registration.

The Roadshow delivers essential updates on labor law, regulations, and workforce best practices—tailored for farm owners, managers, and ag service providers. Sessions also focus on practical strategies to boost communication, strengthen retention, and build a positive workplace culture.

The in-person session for Eastern NY is December 9 - Elks Lodge, Greenwich, NY - full day in person session 

Additional in-person sessions are:

December 10 - Hilton Garden Inn, Watertown, NY, December 17 - Cornell AgriTech, Geneva, NY, December 18 - Genesee Community College, Batavia, NY

In addition to the in-person Ag Labor Roadshow program in our region on December 9, two webinars are scheduled for December 1 and December 22.  Each webinar will focus on different program content that is different from the in-person sessions.  These webinars are an added benefit to program registration.

The Becker Forum, an annual gathering of growers, farm managers, and industry experts, offers a comprehensive program tailored to address the most pressing challenges facing the agricultural community today. The day will feature a series of informative sessions designed to equip attendees with the tools and knowledge they need to navigate these complex issues successfully.