Join us for our third session of Fields of Knowledge: Conversations about Farmer Health & Safety. These sessions aim to create meaningful dialogue between researchers and the farming community, fostering collaboration and shared understanding around key topics affecting farmer health and safety.
Succession Planning and Farm Transitions
Thursday, March 27, 2 pm – 3 pm Eastern Time
Zoom Webinar – Click Here to Register
This session explores the communication challenges and family dynamics that arise during farm succession, highlighting the value of structured, collaborative transition plans.
Our Panelists
Sharla Nelson is a fourth-generation dairy farmer from Milford, NY. After earning her degree in Dairy Production and Management from SUNY Cobleskill, she returned to her family’s farm, Sunny Acres Swiss, where she works alongside her mother and grandfather to manage a 300-head herd of Brown Swiss and Jersey cows. As both a farmer and a new mother, Sharla understands firsthand the challenges and rewards of running a multigenerational dairy operation. Her deep-rooted commitment to family and agriculture gives her a unique perspective on ensuring a smooth and sustainable future for the next generation of farmers.
Audrey McDougal, LMSW, is a NY FarmNet Family Consultant with over twelve years of experience in the social work profession. Audrey’s background as a therapist and educator includes working with children in schools, providing in-home support to families, and facilitating outdoor Ecotherapy groups. At NY FarmNet, Audrey helps farm families to navigate stressful life transitions and communicate effectively. Audrey is also a Mental Health First Aid Instructor and provides outreach presentations on topics such as suicide prevention and stress management. Originally from the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York, Audrey is passionate about supporting the mental health and resilience of rural families.
Dr. Shoshanah Inwood holds degrees in rural sociology, environmental science and biology. Her career has focused on the intersection of agriculture, environment, and society in the context of community and economic development. Her research focuses on both the role of communities in food system development and the socio-cultural household level processes that underlay the American food and agriculture system. Her integrated research and extension program centers on: 1) health and well-being in the food and agriculture sector; 2) social factors affecting farm growth; 3) community and economic development through food and agriculture; and 4) food system resilience, disasters and disruptions.
We welcome farmers, farm families, agricultural service providers, and anyone invested in the well-being of rural communities to join us for this important conversation.