Okay, so it’s not the most exciting New Year’s Resolution but it may be a whole lot more doable than dropping 30 pounds in 2012.  On page 5 of this month’s Grassroots newspaper by New York Farm Bureau (“NYFB”) includes a nice submission by A. Edward Staehr of NY FarmNet about coping with a disaster (including grief counseling, recreating lost records, stress management, cash flow planning, and debt restructuring).  I highly recommend FarmNet’s consultants:  they are well qualified and really understand the agriculture industry/culture.

However, there is a lot to be said for planning for the disaster beforehand.  For example, when is the last time you revisited your insurance policies (e.g., crop insurance, livestock insurance, health insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, etc.)?  Do you have these original documents in a safety deposit box?  Do you have your estate planning documents in order (e.g., Power of Attorney, Health Proxy, Living Will, Last Will and Testament, Living Revocable Trust)?  Is a succession plan in place in case the current management of a farm or agri-business is unable to continue managing the operation (death, disability, or illness)?  Do you have electronic copies of important far records?  Does your family have your in-case-of-emergency information (including passwords)?  Are your business organizational documents in order (e.g., LLC Operating Agreement, Partnership Agreement)?  Do you have enough cash in your emergency fund?

“Disasters” can come in many forms.  It could be a loss of a loved one, an unexpected law suit or family dispute, or an Act of God.  Make 2012 the year when you are prepared for the worst.  It may make you less stressed about the future.  And then maybe you will be able to lose that extra 30 pounds afterall…

I saw "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" on Broadway last spring and recommend it to anyone visiting NYC.

The National Agriculture Law Center has reported that approximately 90% of agricultural operations do not survive the transition to the next generation.  I have to say- that statistic is a bit alarming.  The primary reason for this is poor succession planning.  Estate planning is just one part of workable succession plan.  Estate planning focuses on asset distribution while succession planning delves into the continuation of the family business to the next generation. Succession planning requires a farm or ranch family to really look at its business plan and determine a workable transition.

Here are some of the issues a family should consider:

Goals/Concerns. The first step in developing a feasible succession plan is to consider what the primarily goals and concerns are for the agri-business.  Perhaps the major goal is to avoid estate/death tax.  Or perhaps it is to make sure that all the children are treated equally.  It is important for a family to first think about their major goals and concerns when passing down the family business to the next generation.

Management. If a family business will successfully continue into the next generation, it is especially important that families build the management skills of the younger generation.  A family should use every possible opportunity to strengthen the skills of the potential successors by getting them involved in the day-to-day management decisions and the business aspect of the farm or ranch including but not limited to finances, legal decisions, human resources, technology and marketing.  Along those same lines, a family should consider a phased retirement program gradually reducing the management responsibility of the older generation.

Power & Personality Dynamics.  When analyzing various succession options, a family should consider possible power struggles and personality dynamics.  “Power” can come in business shares, (perceived) success, skills, education, and even popularity –either within the family unit or in the community.  Additionally, families must consider the personality dynamics within the family unit.  To illustrate, one should consider whether particular family members can work together to co-manage a family business.

Maneuvering Through Unexpected “Hiccups.” You know the saying –“I plan.  God Laughs.” (ain’t that the truth…).  Life rarely goes “as planned” and a quality succession plan needs to assist a farm or ranch family in surviving these “hiccups” in life.  Examples may include premature retirement/death, divorce, lawsuits, or a breakdown in a relationship.  Can your family farm/ranch survive these hiccups?

Consider the Fears of Minority Shareholders. A family should consider a proper exit strategy for the minority shareholders so they do not feel they are locked into the family business.  Additionally, a family should also consider giving them a right of first refusal in percentage interest.  Finally, a farm/ranch should consider getting the business appraised so that minority shareholders feel like they are receiving a fair price for their ownership.

Looking for more information?  I recently read this book regarding estate and succession planning by Neil E. Harl and highly recommend it.  The National Agriculture Law Center also has a wealth of information here.

On a final note, proper communication is the key among farm and ranch families.  Without open and honest communication, a family business cannot survive.  I recommend having an annual conversation about succession planning.  Like I said last year,holidays are a great time to talk about these issues because most of the family members will be home.  Good luck and Happy Holidays!

I’m excited for my new webinar series titled “Fridays with Cari.”  I will be discussing a variety of agriculture issues with my Friday webinar series ranging from livestock animal cruelty law to estate planning.  I believe that legal information should be affordable for everyone in the food and agriculture industry and I hope that my webinars will be educational to my attendees.

All of the webinars are on Fridays at 2pm ET.  I’m planning on doing the following webinars this fall/winter and would appreciate if my readers would share this information to those that may be interested:

1.  Overview of New York Livestock Animal Cruelty Law:  Today I will give an overview of livestock animal cruelty law in New York and discuss the law of search and seizure of livestock.

2.  Twitter 101:  Tweeting for the Food and Agriculture Industry:  Are you new to Twitter or thinking about joining?  Next Friday I will give the Twitter ABC’s and discussing everything from setting up a profile, using hashtags, and third party applications such as Tweetdeck and HootSuite.

3.  Embryo Transfer Contracts for the Livestock Industry:  On November 18th, I will be giving an overview of contracts dealing with embryo transfers in the horse and livestock industry.

4.  Pre-Nuptial and Post-Nuptial Agreements for the Agriculture Community:  Whether you are already married or recently engaged, on December 2nd I will give an overview on why farm/ranch families should think about whether pre- or post- nuptial agreements are for them.

5.  Overview of Estate and Succession Planning for the Agriculture Community:  This is a topic that I am extremely passionate about and hope many of my readers will sign up for this particular webinar.  On December 16th (entering the holiday season), I will give an overview on estate and succession planning for the ag community.

6.  New Year, New Resolution – Putting Livestock Sales Contracts in Writing:  I’m going discuss livestock sales contracts to bring in the New Year on January 6th.  I will give an overview of contract law and list suggested provisions that may be included in the livestock sales contract.

7.  New Year, New Resolution – General Partnership Agreements for the Food & Agriculture Community:   A general partnership is formed with more than one person enters an agreement to go into business together and share profits.  But what does that “agreement” entail?  The food and agriculture industry should think about putting general partnership agreements in writing.  On January 13th, I will give an overview of partnership law and suggest language that should be included in the general partnership agreement.

8.  New Year, New Resolution – Legal Issues Pertaining to NY Start-Up Businesses:  Are you considering starting a business in New York?  On January 27th, I will give an overview of legal issues that New York start-up businesses should consider including trademark law, business organizations, and business plans.

9.  Legal Issues Pertaining to Livestock Photographers:  Livestock photography law?  Huh?  Yes, that’s right.  On February 10th, I will discuss applicable laws including business formations, trademark law, and copyright law.

10.  Getting Divorced in New York:  An Overview of the Process:  Are you considering getting divorced in New York State?  I will discuss court procedures, stages in litigation, grounds for divorce including “no fault” divorce, separation agreements, child support, temporary/durational spousal maintenance, forensic accounting, and Alternative Dispute Resolution (e.g., mediation and collaborative divorce).

You can register for the webinar by visiting the Events Page.  I have received several emails inquiring whether the webinars will be recorded and sold at a later date.  Right now, I am planning on rerunning the webinars at a later date so if you miss the first one you can attend it in the future.  However, I am considering recording the webinars so please stay tuned for more details.

Participation in the webinars will be completely confidential.  I am very aware that some of the issues – particularly the webinars dealing with pre/post-nuptial agreements and divorce- are extremely sensitive topics.  Your identity will not be disclosed to the other participants.

It is important to note that the webinars are for informational purposes only and are not designed to give legal advice.  There will be no attorney-client privilege for questions asked during the webinar.  If you specific legal questions that need addressed, you are encouraged to speak directly to an attorney licensed in your jurisdiction.

Keep your family informed so they know how to properly handle a crisis.

Rincker Law, PLLC provides clients with an estate planning binder so clients can keep photocopies of their Last Will and Testament, Power of Attorney, Health Proxy, Trusts, and information regarding assets.  I also recommend that clients complete this information sheet and include it in the estate planning binder.  Furthermore, I also think it is a good idea to complete the “In Case of An Emergency” Sheet and distribute it to individuals that would need it in the event of a family crisis.

I really enjoyed reading the article by Don Tyler titled “Working with Family — Hiring (and Firing) Family Members in this month’s Feedlot magazine (pages 36, 38).  It reminded me of the unique challenges that family businesses must face — whether it is a family farm/ranch or any other type of business.  Intra-family dynamics can seriously affect the day-to-day operations of a family business and can impact hiring/firing decisions.   It also reminded me of the blurry line between independent contractors, employees and general partners in family businesses (I will delve into this topic in a different post).

I suggest reading Mr. Tyler’s article regarding hiring and firing family members.  I also suggest seeking counsel on employment law issues from an attorney licensed in your jurisdiction to obtain advice specifically tailored to your situation.  These types of issues also overlap with estate/succession planning for a farm or agri-business.

As an (slightly unrelated) aside, here is an interesting Fact Sheet from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) Economic Research Service (“ERS”) regarding the economics of U.S. family farms.

As I noted in this previous post, I am the new Chair of the American Bar Association (“ABA”), General Practice, Solo and Small Firm’s Division, Agriculture Law Committee.  You can join the Committee and the Discussion List here.  I have restructured the subcommittees as follows:

1. Ag ADR: mediation, arbitration

2. Ag Estate/Succession Planning, Family Law, and Taxation: estate planning,succession planning, probate, tax law, pet trusts, prenuptial/postnuptial agreements, divorces, same-sex marriage

3. Ag Environmental Law & Water Law: water, air, hazardous materials, climate change, conservation, pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, endangered species, biodiversity, livestock grazing, fertilizers

4. Ag Policy: Farm Bill, legislative/lobbying services, domestic food security/insecurity, rural development, subsidies, federal budget, agriculture education, minorities in agriculture

5. Agri-business Law: agriculture lending/finance, business structures/formations, not-for-profit law, secured transactions, commercial litigation, ag cooperatives, ag sales, ag bankruptcy (Chapter 12)

6. Food/Ag Employment & Labor Law: employment law, wage & hour, child labor law

7. Food/Ag Grant Writing: state and federal level

8. Food/Ag Insurance: crop insurance, livestock insurance, environmental insurance, disaster insurance

9. Food/Ag Intellectual Property: copyrights, trademarks, patents

10. Food/Ag Property & Land Use Law: real estate transactions, eminent domain, easements, grain storage, livestock grazing permits, landlord-tenant law, foreclosure, agri-tourism/agri-tainment, energy law

11. Food Law & Policy: food safety, food labeling, food permits, food product liability, nutrition programs

12. International Food/Ag Law & Policy: international trade, customs, immigration, international business transactions, United Nations, food security/insecurity in lesser developed nations, comparative food/ag law

13. Production Agriculture & Aquaculture: equine law, biotechnology, Right to Farm, livestock animal cruelty, livestock trespass, check-off programs, local agriculture, urban agriculture, organic agriculture, specialty crops, biosecurity, livestock space/confinement, fiber production, leather

As you can see from the above list, the subcommittees touch upon nearly every area of agriculture law.  I am very excited about the future of the Committee.

Please email me at cari@rinckerlaw.com if you are interested in joining (or chairing) any of the above subcommittees.  You must be a paid member of the ABA General Practice, Solo, and Small Firm Division in order to join the Agriculture Law Committee or any of the above subcommittees.

I took this photo of a buffalo herd while roadtripping through South Dakota with my dog, Taylor. Beautiful countryside. (c) 2011

Seems like just yesterday I was driving across South Dakota with my dog Taylor before starting Rincker Law, PLLC and this blog.  It’s been a great ride so far.  Big thank you to my friends, family, colleagues, contract attorneys/legal assistants, clients and blog readers for all your support.

It’s been a busy year indeed.  Over the last year, I am very thankful to have been honored as a Distinguished Alumni of Lake Land College (“LLC”) (read about my experience at LLC here), selected for the American Cattlewomen (“ANCW”) National Beef Speakers Bureau (“NBSB”), elected President of New York Agri-Women (“NYAW”), elected as the Secretary/Treasurer of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (“NCBA”) Young Producer’s Council (“YPC”), and profiled in the ABA Journal.  My work on the YPC social media guides has caught industry attention (we are currently working on a LinkedIn Guide for cattle producers).

I have had a busy spring with speaking engagements including the New Jersey State Bar Association (“NJSBA”) Annual Meeting, New York Farm Bureau (“NYFB” Animal Welfare Symposium, and NYFB Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) Leadership Conference.  Additionally, I am also in the middle of a family/matrimonial law seminar series for mental health professionals.  I hope to have webinars available for the agriculture industry this fall/winter.

On the technology front, I have become an Apple-using attorney (“MacLawyer”) now using an iMac, iPhone, iPad (great for the courtroom), and Macbook Pro.  Even though I have found a few glitches in my system transfer, I have been very happy with my Apple products and customer service.  I have also entered the world of Skype.  I gave it the college try on my first video blog (hopefully more to come) and have been experimenting with WebEx in the animal & agriculture production law & policy course that I am currently enrolled in.  I am considering using WebEx for a platform with clients, Ag Book Club chats, and webinars.

And- I almost forgot- within the last year I became NCBA Beef Quality Assurance (“BQA”) certified.

In case you missed it, here are a few of my favorite blogs over the last year:

1.  I recently wrote an article on embryo transfer contracts for the livestock industry.  I feel very strongly that the agriculture industry needs a shift in business culture putting agreements in writing.  Embryo transfers/flushes are no exception.

2.  Does your sale abide by the “suggested sale terms” from your livestock breed association?  Make sure there is a meeting of the minds and put the terms of the agreement in writing.  As a caveat, pay attention to silent “suggested sale terms” (e.g., semen’s ability to freeze) that may be material.

3.  When is the last time you had fence maintenance on your farm?  This blog delves into a livestock owner’s potential liability with highway accidents.

4.  This post gives an overview of state laws relating to livestock space.  So what is next?

5.  Some folks really enjoyed this post regarding the role of a buyer’s attorney in a real estate closing.

6.  One of my personal favorites – this post memorializes why I think prenuptial agreements are romantic.

7.  I highly suggest seeking counsel before entering into a wind lease.

8.  Dr. Temple Grandin is on a short list of women that I look up to most in the livestock business.

9.  When is the last time you updated your employee handbook?

10.  Are you trying to decide what business structure is best for you?  Read this previous post first.

11. Are you considering getting divorced in New York?  Here is an overview of the new “no fault” divorce law.

12.  Why I am proud to be a member of the agriculture industry.

13.  Knock, knock.  ”Who’s there … and do you have a warrant?”  How New York livestock producers should handle visits from non-police officers.

14.  We are half-way through the 2011 tax year.  Have you thought about charitable deductions?

15.  So what do you think is the most important issue affecting the agriculture industry?

16.  I feel very passionate about succession/estate planning for farm/ranch families.  So when is the last time you had *that* conversation?

17.  Don’t just be thankful on Thanksgiving.  Why are you thankful?

18.  How to find the right attorney for you (Part I and Part II).

19.  Don’t just complain.  You can help change the law.

Thank you to for your loyal readership!  Seems like just yesterday I was celebrating my one-year blogging anniversary.  Looking forward to a fantastic year three.

My grandpa, Leland Rincker, on his farm in Shelbyville, Illinois.

On my flight from Denver back to New York City after the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (“NCBA”) Annual Convention and Trade Show, I found a great piece in the Shorthorn Country by Patrick Wall, the Director of Genetic Improvement and Eastern Regional Director for the American Shorthorn Association (don’t tell my dad, but I have always loved fuzzy Shorthorn cattle).  The article is found on page 28 of the February 2011 issue titled “The Pedigree of a Stockman.”

In this blog, I wrote about balance of technology and tradition in agriculture.  I think Patrick Wall’s article compliments this post because he notes the values that are so important to the agriculture industry.

“The face of agriculture has certainly changed, but the heart of a stockman never will.”

I really loved how Patrick Wall described the inherit desire to continue the food production business in farm and ranch families across the country and how each of them care so much about what they do.

“My sire, grandsire, and maternal grandsire are or were all stockmen, and I’m certain previous generations were too.  It’s a dominant gene I no doubt inherited, and a major reason I get out of bed each day.  It’s the gene that causes me to lose sleep when a calf dies, but also the one that finds comfort leaning on a gate listening to livestock communicate with their young.”

I'm petting a baby calf at my grandpa's farm

Additionally, Wall commented on how more experienced livestock producers typically take the time to teach younger generations.  This type of instruction is invaluable to help ensure prosperity of the family farm.

“Science and advertising have made the process of raising cattle so complex that we often forget the simple things mastered by our elders.”

The younger generation also has to be sensitive to retiring farmers and ranchers and their desire to stay involved in the family business.

“The stockman I knew never really retired; he just sold his tractors.”

Great piece by Patrick Wall reminding all of us why we love this industry so dearly.

Picture of my grandpa Leland Rincker with his 4-H project. He's 86 now. A lot has changed in the beef industry while other things have remained the same.

Last week I spoke to the New York Farm Bureau (“NYFB”) Young Farmers and Ranchers (“YF&R”) about finding the right balance between tradition and technology.  I thought that I would share a few thoughts from my presentation here.

1.  The Use of Technology in Agriculture Is Traditional.  Farmers and ranchers have always used technological advancements to increase efficiency, quality, safety, and profitability.  The crop industry has experienced six major revolutions with the introduction of (a) mechanical equipment such as tractors and cotton-pickers, (b) hybrid seed, (c) fertilizers, (d) herbicides, insecticides, & fungicides, (e) biotechnology, and (f) information technology.  Farmland erosion has reduced by 43% in the  last 20 years.  In 1940, 1 farmer produced enough food for 19 people.  In 2010, 1 farmer produced enough food by 155 people.  A higher proportion of farmers use smartphones when compared to the general public (46% vs. 25%).

2.  ”The Times They Are A-Changin’” - Bob Dylan.  This isn’t your grandfather’s industry anymore.  Generation Y currently out-numbers baby-boomers.  Adoption rates for internet-based applications such as social media are much faster than traditional technological adoption rates.  It is estimated that mobile data traffic will increase 39 fold by 2014.  Businesses are changing the way they market themselves and cater to this growing demographic.  Furthermore, agriculture is being faced with younger leadership.  Between 2007 and 2030, 80 million U.S. employees will retire.  A 2008 Iowa State University survey of Midwestern farm families revealed that 42% of farmers planned to retire within the next 5 years.  There will consequently be a shift in leadership on our farms, ranches and agribusinesses.  Due to this, have my readers had *that* conversation with your family?  Poor succession planning is a huge threat to family farms.

3.  The Use of Technology Does Not Mean We Are Big Bad Corporate Agriculture. Even though 98% of the farms in the United States are family owed, it doesn’t change the fact that there is a negative stereotype about modern agriculture practices from U.S. consumers and the international community.  We need technology to feed a growing world population.  It is paramount that the agriculture community get involved and help educate the public about the use of technology in agriculture either via social media or face-to-face agvocacy.  Prepare that elevator speech and be prepared to talk to consumers about what you do – wherever you are.  It’s amazing the questions that I get when I wear my cowboy boots to the airport.  If you get discouraged about the negative press that the agriculture community is receiving regarding its use of technology, please remember that it isn’t “us vs. them.”  We are all Team Agriculture.  It isn’t Big Ag vs. Small Ag.  It isn’t Organic vs. Non-Organic.  It isn’t the Cattle Industry vs. the Corn Industry.  And it isn’t Agriculture vs. Consumers.  Consumers are our customers and we need to respectfully listen to their voice.

4.  There is No Need to Keep Up With the Joneses. Don’t use technology for the sake of using technology.  Use your business cap and make sure that the technology that you choose is cost-effective.  Judicially decide what types of technology to use based upon your specific operation, budget, brand and client base.

My dad checkin' his turnips

5.  Technology Cannot Replace Common Sense. As my grandpa says, “Red sky at night, sailors delight; red sky at morn’, sailors be warned” or “ring around the moon, rain come soon.”  Technology cannot replace knowledge and experience.  Don’t forget to use all five of your senses and don’t be afraid to open up the Farmer’s Almanac from time-to-time.

6.  With the Use of Technology, Don’t Forget the Old-Fashioned Values That Make This Industry Great. You know the values that I’m referring to.  The unbelievable sense of community.  Family Values.  Hard-work.  And helping that neighbor in a time of need.  Those are the things that make this industry worth fightin’ for.  So no matter what technological advancements come in our future, hold true to those values that make this industry great.

7.  Don’t Forget Real Life Relationships. I love Facebook and Twitter as much as everybody but it cannot replace real-life relationships.  Don’t let social media get in the way of family-time.  Don’t forget face-to-face networking.  It is great to be an agvocate online, but you can also do a lot of good for agriculture by talking to people in your community.  Technology is great but let’s not all be glued to our smartphones too much that we forget the wonderful relationships that we have IRL (“in real life”).

I’m very excited for a busy winter with agriculture conferences and events.  I love being a New Yorker and living in NYC but it is always nice to get a break from the hustle and bustle and be around others that share my passions and interests.  Here are a few agriculture events coming up that I will be attending:

1.  I’m looking forward to the New York Beef Producers’ Association (“NYBPA”) annual meeting in Syracuse, New York this Friday and Saturday.  You can review the full agenda here and you can find the registration form here.  The animal science part of my brain is looking forward to the Feeder Conference on Friday, January 21st and the Winter Management Program on Saturday, January 22nd.  I will also be attending the annual meeting for the New York Simmental Association (“NYSA”) on Saturday at 3:30pm.

2.  The New York State Bar Association (“NYSBA”) Agriculture and Rural Issues Committee will have a teleconference on Tuesday, January 25.  I am looking forward to getting more involved with this committee.  If you are an attorney in New York practicing (or considering practicing) agriculture law, or if you are a law student who is considering this practice area, then I highly recommend becoming active on the NYSBA Agriculture and Rural Issues Committee.

3.  Even though the event is broader than agriculture law, I will be attending the Annual Meeting of the NYSBA Committee on Animals and the Law (“CAL”) at the New York Hilton on Wednesday, January 26, 2011.  The theme of the event is “Ethical Considerations and Legal Determinations in the Practice of Animal Law.”  You can view a brochure of the event here.  There is cross-over between agriculture law and animal law, especially with the criminal prosecution of livestock animal cruelty and property disputes with livestock animals (e.g., replevin cases).  I am glad that I am able to bring a unique viewpoint to the committee.  I have also enjoyed handing matters concerning companion animals for folks who live in greater New York City (e.g., landlord-tenant disputes, estate planning, ownership disputes).  It is an interesting and growing practice area, especially in New York.

4.  I also hope to attend the annual meeting for the NYSBA Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Law and Family Law Sections on Thursday, January 27th at the New York Hilton.  My practice heavily crosses over to both of these practice areas.  I work on food permits via the New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets.  I am also considering attending the Annual Meeting for the Dispute Resolution Section since I am a strong supporter of Alternative Dispute Resolution (“ADR”) including mediation and arbitration.  For those of you who live in New York, I encourage you to visit my previous blog on the New York State Agriculture Mediation Program (“NYSAMP”), which is free for agriculture families.  Mediation is an excellent way to try to reach a settlement prior or during litigation.

5.  I will be flying back home to Illinois on Friday, January 28th in time for my father’s retirement party at Lake Land College.  You can find the details of the event here.  I feel very blessed to have such an amazing role model in my life.  I can only hope to be as strong of a leader in the agriculture industry as my father has been.  I hope that his previous students and their families will make a showing that day.  I obtained my Associate of Science in Agriculture from Lake Land College and will strongly support success of the Division of Agriculture Science after my father retires this summer as division chair.

6.  From Illinois I am hopping on a plane and heading west to Denver, Colorado!  I was selected to participate on the National Beef Speakers Bureau for the American National Cattlewomen (“ANCW”).  I will participate in a three-day training session to prepare me to speak to consumers about issues affecting the beef cattle industry.  On Tuesday, February 1, I will be attending the Annual Meeting for ANCW and participating in the Animal Welfare Committee.  From February 2 thru February 4, I will be attending the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (“NCBA”) Annual Convention and Trade Show.  I wasn’t able to attend last year so I am particularly excited about attending this winter.  I am voting member on the Agriculture Policy Committee and Tax and Credit Committee for NYBPA.  The Young Producer’s Council (“YPC”) business meeting will be at 2pm on Thursday, February 3.  I have been the Chair of the Public Relations Task Force for YPC over the last year and my position will be up for grabs.  Feel free to contact me if you are interested in running for the PR Chair.  I’m very excited to announce the the PR Task Force will have Twitter, Facebook, and Blog How-To guides available for the Convention.  Really hope that I am able to squeeze in some time for the mountains and wide-open spaces while I’m there.

7.  On the home front, the New York Farm Show will be held in Syracuse, New York from February 24-26.  I hope to attend on February 25th.

8.  Afterwards, I am heading to the First Annual Meeting of New York Agri-Women on February 26 at Morrisville State College. The organization’s leadership board did a fantastic job planning the event.  I am really looking forward to an amazing day talking about the issues that affect New York agriculture producers and business owners.  Information on registration is coming soon.

9.  As I noted in this post, the following Monday, February 28th, I will be in Albany for the New York Farm Bureau‘s (“NYFB”) “Taste of New York” Legislative Reception for NYBPA.  I am working with Bonnie Bargstedt on organizing the booth so if you are a member of NYBPA please contact me if you are interesting in volunteering.  I hope to stay for Lobby Days on March 1st before heading back to New York City.

10.  I will be heading back to Syracuse, New York for the NYFB Young Farmer & Rancher (“YF&R”) Annual Leadership Conference on March 11-12, 2011.  The theme for the event is “Tradition and Technology.”

11.  Finally, there will be a Long Island New York Agri-Women Meet-up on Wednesday, March 23, 2011 at Laurel Lake Vineyards.  The event is being organized by Vicki Gruber, Esq.  She can be contacted at 516/845.8088 or vgruber@vsgpc.com for more information.

Wow.  Needless to say, the next three months will be pretty busy.  I’m very happy that I have such great contract attorneys and paralegals to keep things moving while I am out of the office.  I should be tweeting away at the various agriculture events so if you cannot make it then follow-me at @CariRincker and or @RinckerLaw.