Annie's Project Classic: Risk Management for Farm Women
2026-01-19 13:00 - 15:30, 2026-01-26 13:00 - 15:30, 2026-02-02 13:00 - 15:30, 2026-02-09 13:00 - 15:30, 2026-02-16 13:00 - 15:30, 2026-02-23 13:00 - 15:30, 2026-03-02 13:00 - 15:30, 2026-03-09 13:00 - 15:30 (America/New_York) and 17 more dates | NY
Are you a woman engaged in farming in NYS? Would you like to learn and network with other farm women, and learn how to strengthen your farming operation? Join Cornell Cooperative Extensions of Albany, Allegany, Broome, Schoharie-Otsego, Tioga, and Onondaga counties, for a virtual Annie’s Project this winter as we explore these topics and help you grow your toolbox!
Annie’s Project is a six-week virtual experience designed especially for farm women to help them develop their management and decision-making skills for their farms. Annie’s Project is designed for farm women who have been in farming, or agri-business, or part of the food system for three to five years, and want to develop their understanding, interpretation, and opportunities in sustainable agriculture. Annie’s Project gives farm women the opportunity to learn from female agricultural professionals and network with other women in similar situations.
Annie’s Project provides education in production, price or market, financial, institutional and legal, and human and personal risk. At the end of six weeks, participants will possess the following skills sets:

Understand personality types to communicate better with business partners
Put family living expenses together with other costs of doing business on the farm
Identify production risks on-farm and prioritize risk management strategies to minimize losses
Interpret balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow projections to make business decisions
Confidence in review of labor laws, requirements, and their implications
Develop an inventory of current Human Capitol & make a plan to address any weaknesses and contingency plan if a ‘position’ becomes open
Understand farm family labor vs off farm labor. how to offer benefits & when it’s time to hire outside help
Communicate expectations of family vs hired labor
Understand insurance options to cover Human Resource concerns
Understand how assets are titled and learn about estate planning tools
Consider and evaluate available marketing opportunities
Understand how to distinguish your commodity
Understand tools and resources for stress management & farm equipment needs specific to farm women

The cost is $50 for the series and includes a portfolio, access to all presentations and worksheets, access to financial and legal advice, and support from a variety of community partners. The series will take place on Mondays from 1-3:30pm. The first session, November 3rd, and final session, December 8th will be in person to help kickstart connections with farm women in your region as we explore communication styles and methods of communication. We encourage participants to choose their closest Cornell Cooperative Extension office for these in-person sessions, or participate virtually the entire series.
For more information on the curriculum and program logistics, please contact Laura Biasillo at lw257@cornell.edu.

2026 New York Farm to School Summit
2026-02-23 08:00 - 2026-02-25 20:00 | Saratoga Hilton, 534 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY, 12866, United States
The NY Farm to School Summit will bring together Farm to School stakeholders including farmers and producers, food service directors, educators, administrators, and more!
Co-hosted by New York State Education Department and Cornell Cooperative Extension Harvest NY, the summit will have sessions for all Farm to School stakeholders! The workshops, panel discussions, presentations, and optional field trips are wide-ranging and suitable for stakeholders just starting out in their Farm to School journeys, and those who have been working in the field for many years.
To foster NY business-to-business relationships, Day 2 features a large trade show exclusively featuring:

Producers of NY products, whereby School Food Authorities and other institutions can sample products.
Support service organizations designed to support Farm to School program development.

Click here to learn more.

Rare Opportunity: Apply for Leadership Embodiment Workshop Held Late February
2026-02-27 16:00 - 2026-03-01 13:00 | Light on the Hill Retreat Center, 209 Blake Hill Rd, Van Etten, NY, 14889, United States
Leadership Embodiment – A Workshop Informed by the Japanese non-aggressive martial art of Aikido, Mindfulness practices & Posture awareness
Would you like to navigate the impact of stress and intensity in your work and life more skillfully, with curiosity and compassion? Would you enjoy connecting with others from diverse backgrounds wanting to bring more conscious leadership to our work and lives?
Join educators, organizers, farmers and earth-workers for an introduction to the practices of Leadership Embodiment at the beautiful Light on the Hill Retreat Center in Van Etten, NY. This opportunity is open primarily to New York State.
Starts: Friday, February 28th, 4:00pm
Ends: Sunday, March 1st, 1:00pm
Location: Light on the Hill Retreat Center, Van Etten NY
Cost: This program is normally offered at a registration cost of $400, with an additional $350 in food and lodging costs. However, thanks to *grant support, we are able to make this workshop retreat available for only $100. If cost is a barrier, please don’t hesitate to reach out for a full scholarship.
Apply here: Space is limited to 25 participants. All participants are requested to attend a 45 minute virtual workshop orientation prior to the retreat.
Deadline: Application Process closes January 30th or until filled.

APPLY HERE

What is Leadership Embodiment?
Much of the effect we have on others is communicated non-verbally by our body language, tone and gestures. Some believe as little as 7% of our communication is conveyed by words. How we show up and the physical postures we hold are the key to lowering emotional reactivity, while increasing our power, resilience, and flexibility. Leadership Embodiment introduces participants to straightforward practices to effectively enhance our embodied leadership.
This 2 day, in-person workshop equips participants with tools that enable us to:

Project a powerful, open, and expansive leadership presence.
Create an inclusive space for collaboration and teamwork, especially in challenging situations.
Receive feedback and listen from a place of open curiosity without taking the feedback personally, and
Stand our ground and speak our truth in the face of pressure and resistance.

Leadership Embodiment practices are based on principles from the Japanese non-aggressive martial art of Aikido, mindfulness practices, and posture awareness. Through simple physical exercises that apply light pressure, you will learn to recognize your personal patterns that arise when you are in stressful situations. Once familiar with your unique pattern, we apply centering practices to help you shift to a more creative, inclusive, compassionate, and skillful state. Working with a partner, the learning exercises are examined step by step to create a lasting imprint in the body. Partner debriefs and group conversations create a dynamic, experiential, and supportive learning container. Participants will refine their personal declaration during the workshop and leave with a renewed commitment to offer their gift to the world.
About the Venue: Inner Light Lodge offers spacious, light-filled accommodations with panoramic views extending to Pennsylvania. Participants may request single or double occupancy rooms with shared bathrooms, or opt for a private cottage. The dining room looks out on the beautiful view and offers plenty of space for enjoying gourmet meals and meaningful conversation. The fully equipped commercial kitchen is stocked with healthy, organic, often locally grown food for vegetarian meals that feed the body and soul. To learn more, visit https://lightonthehill.org/accommodations/inner-light-lodge/

*This program is supported by the Equitable Farm Futures Initiative funded by New York State Agriculture and Markets and the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under sub-award number SNE23-010-NY funded by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture.

About the Workshop Hosts:
Graham Hall, Instructor. Graham has been practicing Leadership Embodiment (LE) since 2007. In 2012 he attained his Leadership Embodiment Associate teaching certificate. He engages Leadership Embodiment practices as a foundation in his coaching practice to help his clients connect with their innate inner power and to manifest their hopes and dreams. Through use of LE practices such as shaping their declaration, clients manifest their unique gifts into the world. His interest in coaching and LE evolved from working on complex projects with extremely diverse communities to deploy new technology and processes for Cornell University. Leadership Embodiment practices have had a profound impact on his personal journey. Currently, he is transitioning from his 45 year career in Information Technology/Project Management to assisting others in their purposeful journeys via LE workshops and personal coaching. To relax and appreciate the abundance and beauty of nature he has a thriving, expanding dahlia garden (currently in hibernation in his basement!) He marvels and is inspired by the humble dahlia tuber. Each tuber bursts forth their stored energy when summer’s warmth returns. Graham experiments with new dahlia varieties which delight and support his passion for contemplative photography!

Damon Brangman & Amara Steinkraus, Special Saturday Evening Sound Healing Program. Sound Healing is an ancient practice using vibrations from instruments like singing bowls, gongs, and chimes, or the human voice, to promote relaxation and balance the body’s energy, aiming to reduce stress and anxiety by restoring vibrational harmony. Damon is a farmer/educator and musician and founded Roots Rising Farm to offer hands on garden education through school and community gardens. He has been on a personal healing journey since being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. His passion for sound healing arises from wanting to assist others on their own healing journey. The earth is healing itself, and we play an important role in allowing the process to heal us, if we can only stop for a moment and listen.

Violet Stone, Workshop Coordinator. Violet Stone leads a wide range of retreats and workshops for the agricultural community drawing on themes of connection, wellness, purpose, integrity and courage. She sees this work as contributing to a more inclusive ‘culture’ of agriculture. In this highly technological age of automation and artificial intelligence, we have much to gain from the act of offering one another genuine listening, open-hearted attention, and wonder. Violet is a passionate life-long gardener, growing ever more appreciative for the beauty, joy, sustenance and healing that our non-human relatives so generously gift us. Violet has led programs for the Cornell Small Farms Program since 2007 and also serves as the New York Northeast SARE Professional Development Coordinator.

Tree Fruit Pruning - Techniques for Health & Productivity
2026-02-28 12:00 - 14:00 | Middlefield Orchards, 2274 State Highway 166, Middlefield, NY, 13326, United States
Join us for an interactive workshop focused on practical pruning techniques to improve the health, structure, and productivity of your tree fruit. Michael Basedow, tree fruit specialist, will guide participants through pruning fundamentals before heading out to the orchard for hands-on demonstrations. Whether you’re managing a small orchard or a few backyard trees, this session will help you gain confidence and sharpen your pruning skills.
Workshop Highlights:

Learn key principles of tree fruit pruning for healthier, more productive trees
Review pruning timing, tools, and common mistakes to avoid
Gain practical guidance from a regional tree fruit specialist
Head out to the orchard for hands-on pruning demonstrations
Bring your questions and learn how to adapt techniques to your own orchard

Berry Pruning - Methods for Stronger Plants and Better Yields
2026-03-07 10:00 - 12:00 | Middlefield Orchards, 2274 State Highway 166, Middlefield, NY, 13326, United States
Join us for a hands-on berry pruning workshop focused on improving plant health and maximizing harvest. Heather Case, regional berry specialist, will guide participants through pruning fundamentals before heading into the field for live demonstrations and practice. Whether you grow raspberries, blueberries, or other small fruits, you’ll leave with practical skills to apply on your own farm or in your garden this season.
Workshop Highlights:

Learn pruning techniques to improve berry plant health and productivity
Understand how pruning affects growth, fruit quality, and yield
Review proper timing, tools, and methods for common berry crops
Gain insights from a regional berry specialist
Head out for hands-on pruning demonstrations in the berry planting

Grafting Workshop
2026-03-22 14:00 - 16:30 | CCE Tompkins, 615 Willow Ave, Ithaca, NY, 14850, United States
Grafting has been used for centuries to join two trees into one to propagate various desired traits. This workshop will start with a presentation of the history of grafting and different grafting techniques. Participants will also have the opportunity to graft their own tree using the cleft grafting method and get to take home one grafted heirloom apple tree. Space is limited to 24, online pre-registration is required.
Instructor: Roger Ort is the Owner of Ort Family Farm which grows around 1,000 fruit trees and 3 acres of small fruits that are all processed into their line of jams and jellies. Roger hails from Southern, PA where he attended Williamsport Community College and earned a degree in Horticulture Nursery Management. In 2021 Roger retired from the Cornell Cooperative Extension system after 13 years as a Horticulture Educator and has been able to focus more on growing more unusual fruits and educating others to do the same.
