Name: Navigating the Complex Emotional, Social, and Financial Issues of Working with Farmers in Distress
Start: 2026-09-23T09:00:00-0600
End: 2026-09-23T10:30:00-0600

Navigating the Complex Emotional, Social, and Financial Issues of Working with Farmers in Distress

Wednesday September 23, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am MDT

Alvarado G

Sam Smith of the Intervale Center and Michael Robertson of Cornell University NY FarmNet are proposing a session to explore the process of working with distressed borrowers. Farmers in distress are making difficult decisions under pressure with interconnected personal, financial, and family systems that all need attention. The presenters will discuss the processes they use to work directly with farmers who are experiencing distress and present examples of different farm scenarios and outcomes. The goal of the workshop is to introduce strategies for working with farmers in distress and build the confidence and skills of attendees to work with these farms. The session will touch on the following topics: Initial assessment including financial, emotional and relational readiness. Readiness determines the work and there are different entry points for clients Service provider strategies for approaching difficult conversations. The term 'soft skills' is misleading – these skills are the core intervention and there are specific teachable competencies. Collecting financial and production data to develop potential scenarios. Working with partners: lenders, attorneys, CPAs, mediation, mental health. Introducing challenging concepts (bankruptcy, sale of assets including the farm) Creating a viable plan with support for implementation Outcomes are driven as much by human systems as by financial conditions. Most cases do not result in full turnaround, disengagement is common (though they often return later), and the emotional and relational barriers > technical barriers.

Speakers

Sam Smith

Farm Business Director, Intervale Center

Sam Smith is the Farm Business Director at the Intervale Center. He has background in livestock and vegetable farming, and a MBA in Sustainability from Antioch New England. He works with throughout Vermont to improve farm viability and develop the next generation of farm and food... Read More →

Michael Robertson

NY FarmNet and/or Shelterbelt Advisors

Michael Robertson is the Farm Business Management Specialist at NY FarmNet. He also runs Shelterbelt Advisors, a small investment advisory and tax preparation firm that serves farmers. He lives in the Hudson Valley of New York on a sheep farm.

Wednesday September 23, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am MDT
Alvarado G

Business Planning and Development, Farm Financial Management

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National Farm Viability Conference

Sam Smith

Michael Robertson

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National Farm Viability Conference

Sam Smith

Michael Robertson

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