If you are interested in breaking into the farming industry and don't know where to start, there is a workshop that might help steer you in the right direction.

The Virginia Farm Bureau Federation and the State Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services are sponsoring the workshop to teach people about things like farm transition issues, estate planning and financing.

Those who attend the workshop will also have the opportunity to connect with experts in the industry.

Kevin Schmidt with the Office of Farmland Preservation said the average age of farm operators in Virginia is increasing, and there are a lot of young people interested in farming.

The workshop is to ensure that the next generation on the farm is as well prepared as possible.

Schmidt said one of the biggest challenges for new farmers is finding a potential partner that they can work with, so one of the goals is to connect them with mentors who can help them get a foot in the door.

"There's a lot of interest from younger farmers, and even in some cases, folks who don't have a farm background but are interested for various reasons in getting into agriculture. So the question for them is, how do you overcome some of these hurdles that are out there and help them actually get into that farming operation?" said Schmidt.

The workshop will be Aug. 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Community Center in Weyers Cave.

If you are interested in signing up, you can contact Schmidt at 804-786-1346.

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