Cornell Cooperative Extension

Oswego County
Fast Track to Farming

Learn about starting & operating an agribusiness and the different forms of agriculture!

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Fast Track to Farming

  • Friday, September 26, 2025, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
  • Saturday, September 27, 2025, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County, in partnership with Cooperative Extension Jefferson County, is hosting a two-day educational series for anyone interested in starting a new farm or looking to diversify an existing farm. The Fast Track to Farming Series is a regional two-day event where participants learn how to start and operate a new farm business while also learning about different forms of agriculture. Topics will include business planning, marketing, livestock, horticulture, and value-added processing.

A light dinner and/or lunch will be provided for free on Friday and Saturday. There is no cost to attend, but online registration is required. There will also be plenty of time for questions and networking.

For more information, contact Joshua Vrooman, Agriculture Educator for CCE Oswego County, at jwv33@cornell.edu or 315-963-7286 ext. 200, or MaKayla Dickinson, Agriculture and Workforce Development Educator for CCE Jefferson County at (315)-788-8450 ext. 266 or email mrd275@cornell.edu.

This series is made possible through the USDA Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Grant. 

Fee

Free to attend but registration is required.

Register

https://reg.cce.cornell.edu/FasttracktofarmingFall2025-2_222

Contact

Joshua Vrooman
Agriculture Community Educator
jwv33@cornell.edu
315-963-7286 ext. 200

Location

Stefano's Pizzeria
3273 Main Street
Mexico, NY 13114

Last updated August 5, 2025

Agenda

Friday Session: 6:00pm-8:00pm

  • 6:00pm to 6:30pm – A light dinner will be served. Paul Forestiere, Executive Director for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego Count, gives a short introduction to U.S. Land-Grant and Extension System. Joshua Vrooman, Agriculture Educator, will also give a general overview of local agriculture program.
  • 6:30pm to 8:00pm - Noelle Porras CCE Food System Marketing Specialist will present on basics of business planning, marketing, regulations, policies, website design, and value-added production regulations, and more.

Saturday Session: 9:00am-3:00pm

  • 9:00am to 11:30am - Abigail Jantzi Birchenough CCE Dairy and Livestock Specialist will present on Livestock 101-basics of fencing, nutrition, housing, marketing demand for a variety of species (i.e. dairy and beef cattle, sheep and goats, rabbits, llamas/alpacas, poultry, etc.). She will also touch on value-added production in dairy and meat and poultry processing.
  • 11:30am to 12pm - Break for a light lunch
  • 12:00 to 3:00pm - Cierra Williams CCE Horticulture and Natural Resource Educator will finish the day with Horticulture 101: discuss variety of beginner friendly careers that are in the field such as landscaping, cut flowers, vegetable production, orchards and berries, greenhouse production, no-tillage vs tillage, IPM, pricing and measurements, certifications/grants/insurances, and more.
  • 3:00pm to 3:30pm – Attendees are welcome to stay for any additional questions and networking.
 

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