Image by Crystal Buck

Beginning Farmer Land Access Retreat

Saturday, October 18, 2025, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Beginning farmers looking for land, join us for a two-day land access retreat on October 18th and 19th at the beautiful Arnot Forest Lodge! This event provides aspiring farmers with the knowledge and resources to turn their farming dreams into reality. This will be a comprehensive two-day dive into the ins and outs of finding and securing farmland including:

The basics of buying and leasing land
Lease to own and option to buy
Community land trusts and ground leases
Cooperative land access
Forming an LLC
The importance of a business plan and why it’s needed
Farm business planning basics - where to start and what to include
Wholistic farm planning - clarifying business and personal goals
Financial readiness

Funding options: grants, crowdfunding, FSA loans, owner financing, etc
Finding and Evaluating Land

Day 1: We’ll get to know each other and meet with farm support specialists from across the state, including an attorney from the PACE Law Clinic, a farm business planning specialist, and a grants/finance expert, who will share their knowledge and insights.

Day 2: We’ll meet for breakfast and talk about how to find farmland and how to assess potential land for farming. After breakfast we will visit three available properties in Tompkins County and go through the process of a detailed assessment of this land together in the field.

Free lodging is available for any farmers wanting to stay overnight at Arnot Forest on Saturday night. Priority is given to folks coming from out-of-town, but please let us know if you are interested in being part of this overnight experience. Lodging is rustic and private accommodations are not guaranteed (find out more at https://ccetompkins.org/about-us/facility-rentals/arnot-forest-lodge-cabins)

We have a modest budget to provide small stipends to help ensure this workshop is accessible. If your current situation makes it financially difficult for you to attend, please consider applying for a stipend through the event registration page.

This event is in partnership with Groundswell Center for Local Food and farming and is generously funded by the American Farmland Trust. Join us for lively conversations, delicious food, and opportunities to connect. The event is free but registration is required.

A copy of the agenda and speaker list for this event can be found here.