“In a survey of regional farmers that we conducted in 2021, 38% of farmers expressed that succession planning for their farm was a frequent source of stress,” said Tim de La Cruz, a family and consumer science extension specialist at UOG and co-director of the Farmer Focus Project. “With this event, we’re hoping to connect farmers with tools and resources to get them started on a plan so they can feel more at ease about the future.”

The two-hour session will provide an introduction to planning the transfer of farm ownership and management to the next generation. Participants will learn about the key steps involved in creating a succession plan, including legal and financial considerations, family communication strategies, and goal setting.

Facilitating the workshop will be Franklin Sablan, a human resources specialist with more than 25 years of experience spanning multiple industries and sectors. Sablan is the director of human resources for Pay-Less Supermarkets as well as the founder and board president of Guam’s Alternative Lifestyle Association (GALA), a nonprofit organization that strengthens the quality of life for the LGBTQIA+ community by providing critical health and social service programs.

How to Register

The workshop has a nonrefundable registration fee of $15. Interested participants can register at https://url.uog.edu/succession or by contacting Kaelan Arciaga at (671) 735-2089 or arciagak11755@triton.uog.edu.

Farmer Focus is a program of the Cooperative Extension & Outreach service under the University of Guam's Land Grant that researches the lives of farmers in the Pacific region and coordinates outreach and education efforts to alleviate their stress and enhance their well-being. The program is a sub-grantee of the USDA-funded Western Region Agricultural Stress Assistance Program at Washington State University.