Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development

06/15/2026

Join us for our LIVE DISCUSSION this Thursday at 7 PM ET for our next VIDA Life Skills Program (presented in Spanish), featuring guest speaker, Rodolfo Ceja Garcia. Topic: Communication Skills at Work (Understanding the Workplace)

LEARN MORE/ACCESS LINK HERE: https://agworkforce.cals.cornell.edu/vida-program/

This month, we are honored to welcome special guest speaker Rodolfo Ceja Garcia, known as Rudy, who will share his experiences, leadership journey, and perspective on workplace communication in agriculture.

We first met Rudy through one of our Spanish Agricultural Supervisory Leadership (ASL-SP) courses and immediately recognized his experience, wisdom, and gifted leadership abilities. His way of leading others stood out because of his calm approach to conflict, his respect for people, and his ability to stay focused on the bigger purpose and mission of the farm.

TRANSLATED:

Únase a nuestra DISCUSIÓN EN VIVO este jueves a las 7:00 p. m. (hora del Este) para nuestro próximo Programa VIDA de Habilidades para la Vida (presentado en español), con la participación especial de nuestro invitado, Rodolfo Ceja García.

**Tema:** Habilidades de Comunicación en el Trabajo (Entendiendo el Lugar de Trabajo)

**OBTENGA MÁS INFORMACIÓN / ACCEDA AL ENLACE AQUÍ:**
https://agworkforce.cals.cornell.edu/vida-program/

Este mes, nos sentimos honrados de dar la bienvenida a nuestro invitado especial, Rodolfo Ceja García, conocido como Rudy, quien compartirá sus experiencias, su trayectoria de liderazgo y su perspectiva sobre la comunicación en el lugar de trabajo dentro de la agricultura.

Conocimos a Rudy por primera vez a través de uno de nuestros cursos de Liderazgo para Supervisores Agrícolas en Español (ASL-SP), y de inmediato reconocimos su experiencia, sabiduría y extraordinarias habilidades de liderazgo. Su manera de dirigir a los demás destacó por su enfoque sereno para resolver conflictos, su respeto hacia las personas y su capacidad para mantenerse enfocado en el propósito y la misión general de la finca.

06/15/2026

Registration closes for ASL102 and ASL105-SP this Thursday, June 18 at 5 PM. Our summer classes are filling up fast! With over 20 learners registered in each course, we're officially hosting two of our largest summer cohorts ever. So many great minds in one season! Be sure to lock in your space now to improve your supervisory skills this summer.

Learn more at

Courses now available: ASL102: Organizing Work for High-Quality Results Organizing Work for High Quality Results teaches farm supervisors how to develop clear expectations and delegate effectively.…

06/03/2026

Next Virtual Office Hour Webinar details below!👇

Date: June 10
Time: 12:00 PM ET
Topic: Using TN Visas to Address Labor Needs on Dairy Farms

In honor of June being National Dairy Month, our next Ag Workforce Central Virtual Office Hour will focus on the TN visa and its use as a labor strategy for dairy farms. The TN visa program can be used to bring skilled, non-seasonal foreign employees to fill critical positions on the dairy. Panelists will provide an overview of the TN visa program, its use in the dairy industry, and share practical experiences and tips.

Guest panelists:
-Jennie Everson, TN Visa Specialist at the Rochester-based workforce management company Agri-Placement Services, Inc., with nearly ten years of experience helping employers utilize the TN visa.
-Shane St. Cyr, partner at Adirondack Farms in Northern New York, who has used the TN visa program to fill key roles on his dairy.
-J. Farfan, a Mexican veterinarian and herdsman working on a dairy in Western New York, with experience both as a TN visa holder and in recruiting other TN visa employees.

Advance registration is required. Register here: https://cornell.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_tRTcYx_kRie2hIp1VVHQQg

06/01/2026

June is Dairy Month, making it the perfect time to invest in the people who help drive your farm’s success. Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development recently launched *two* Agricultural Supervisory Leadership (ASL) courses designed to strengthen supervisory and leadership skills on the farm. While scholarship opportunities are available for eligible dairy producers, these courses are open to all agricultural professionals and are relevant across a wide range of agricultural operations.

The two courses available are:
ASL102: Organizing Work for High-Quality Results
ASL105-SP: Capacita y entrena al personal (Employee Development and Training taught in Spanish) NEW COURSE!

Learn more at https://agworkforce.cals.cornell.edu/agricultural-supervisory-leadership-certificate-program/

05/11/2026

VIDA: One Year Skills Series for Hispanic Farm Workers

Note: previous communications listed our live discussion as May 14. There has been an update to the live discussion date. Please join us on May 21 at 7 PM ET.

Format: Online pre-recorded videos and live monthly Zoom sessions
Topic: Understanding and Preventing Addiction
Watch/share the video now.
Session Schedule: Live sessions every third Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m. (May 21)
Languages: All content and discussions in Spanish
Cost: Free of charge
Registration: not required!

Learn more at https://agworkforce.cals.cornell.edu/vida-program/

04/29/2026

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently updated its guidance on which Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) errors result in penalties. Many errors that were previously considered “technical” and could be corrected by employers within 10 days of an I-9 inspection to avoid further action by ICE have been reclassified as “substantive” meaning they can result in immediate penalties if identified during an I-9 inspection.

These changes significantly increase the penalty potential for an employer during an I-9 inspection further emphasizing the importance to consistently and accurately complete I-9s and regularly conduct self-audits of existing records. Office staff and managers responsible for completing the I-9 form should be trained on how to properly complete the form and spot potential errors.

At our next Ag Workforce Central Virtual Office Hour on May 13, Richard Stup and Lucas Smith of Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development will provide a refresher on how to complete the I-9 form and common errors to look out for.

Learn more: https://agworkforce.cals.cornell.edu/ag-workforce-central-virtual-office-hour/

04/16/2026

Join us tonight for the April edition of the VIDA Life Skills Program, brought to farm employees exclusively in the Spanish language.

Topic: Family Services Part I – Maintaining Family Bonds Across Borders
Session Schedule: Live sessions every third Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m. ET (TONIGHT!)
Languages: All content and discussions in Spanish
Cost: Free of charge
Registration: not required!

Join here: https://cornell.zoom.us/j/92543327118?pwd=etZpgAE68ocpROUfubHfPMyx6kL5ls.1&jst=1

Acompáñenos esta noche en la edición de abril del Programa de Habilidades para la Vida VIDA, ofrecido a los empleados agrícolas exclusivamente en español.

Tema: Servicios familiares – Parte I: Mantener los lazos familiares a través de las fronteras
Calendario de sesiones: Sesiones en vivo cada tercer jueves del mes a las 7:00 p. m. ET (¡ESTA NOCHE!)
Idiomas: Todo el contenido y las discusiones serán en español
Costo: Gratuito
Inscripción: ¡No se requiere!

Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise cloud communications.

04/06/2026

Our next Ag Workforce Central Video Office Hour will feature a retirement plan expert covering what employers should consider when evaluating retirement plan options for their business. There will be a special emphasis on private retirement plan offerings and their relation to the NYS Secure Choice Savings program covered at our February Virtual Office Hour. Cornell Ag Workforce Development has also launched a dedicated webpage addressing commonly asked questions for agricultural employers considering NYS Secure Choice.

Virtual Office Hour date: April 14, 2026
Time: 12 PM ET
Registration required: https://cornell.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_lVLhFZi-T_yKzBq3tcM5bQ #/registration

Hosted by Richard Stup and Lucas Smith
Guest panelist: Mark Modzeleski

Date: April 14, 2026 Time: 12:00 PM Topic: Retirement Plans and Other Employee Benefits Hosted by Richard Stup and Lucas Smith. Guest panelist: Mark Modzeleski Our next Ag Workforce Central Video Office Hour will feature retirement and employee benefits plan experts covering what employers should co...

04/03/2026

Our next VIDA topic will feature a compelling and heartfelt conversation on how families can stay connected despite physical distance. VIDA 2026 | Family Part I explores emotional challenges, practical strategies, and the power of communication in strengthening family bonds across separation. Through real-life insights and reflections with Psychologist Maria Hall, this video highlights that family connection is not defined by proximity, but by commitment, love, and the intentional ways we remain present in each other’s lives.

Format: Online pre-recorded videos and live monthly Zoom sessions (April 16 at 7 PM ET)

Learn more:

Our next VIDA topic will feature a compelling and heartfelt conversation on how families can stay connected despite physical distance. VIDA 2026 | Family Part I explores emotional challenges, pract…

03/18/2026

Join us at 12 PM today for our next Virtual Office Hour. Richard Stup and Lucas Smith will discuss Employee Handbooks. Registration is required. Learn more:

The Ag Workforce Central Virtual Office Hour is a webinar series featuring Cornell experts and guest speakers on timely topics for the agricultural workforce. Virtual Office Hour offers participant…