A team of agricultural interests is sponsoring a workshop in Weyers Cave to promote a new generation of farm families.

The Saturday workshop is aimed at the transition of farming operations once an operator retires and has no successor. The graying of America's and Virginia's farmers has been a concern for some years. The average age of a farmer is in the mid-50s.

The weekend workshop is aimed a mentoring partnerships. This can involve a farm owner who is willing to mentor someone new to farming or a farmer looking to expand his or her operation. It can be a complicated process, and estate planning professionals will attend the workshop.

The workshop is sponsored by the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation and the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.