Jean O’Toole to speak at Stocker Short Course: “So why do you want to get in this business?”

As with any entrepreneurial enterprise the stocker business is tough. Variation in markets, weather, animal health and forage conditions are just a few items that can give you a headache. Therefore as an entrepreneur you need to determine why you want to get into this business.

“Do you love converting forage into inexpensive gain?”

“Do you love interpreting market signals to look for an opportunity?”

“Do you love taking mismanaged cattle, and turning them into a valuable commodity?”

Determining the “why” in what you do is imperative if you are going to succeed. Jean O’Toole, Executive Director of the NY Beef Council will lead students through an exercise centered on the book by “Start with why”. All students will receive a copy of this book. I know that everyone is going to want to dig right into the specifics of the stocker enterprise, but Jean and I both feel the importance of stepping back and looking at the big picture.

The course begins September 30 and there is still time to sign up. The course will help you discover your competitive advantage, markets, economic projections, pasture management, business planning.

In-person sessions will be held at the Cornell Cooperative Extension office of Allegany County in Belmont. It will also be streamed to remote sites in Chautauqua, Cayuga, Jefferson, St. Lawrence, Tompkins and Delaware Counties. Additional remote sites may be added. Cost per series is $100/person and $50/person from same family or farm. Fee includes lunch and all materials. To register contact Barb Jones, bjj6@cornell.edu, 607-255-7712. For more information contact Audia Denton, Stocker Short Course Coordinator, ad982@cornell.edu or Mike Baker, Cornell Beef Specialist, mjb28@cornell.edu, 607-255-5923.

Additional course information can be found at https://blogs.cornell.edu/beefcattle/eventsprograms/southern-tier-stocker-initiative/

Partial funding provided by a grant from NYS Agriculture and Markets.