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Lean Management Workshop

• Wednesday, February 4, 2026, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
• Wednesday, February 11, 2026, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
• Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Dairy and agricultural operations across New York are invited to participate in the upcoming Lean Management Workshop Series: Tools for Continuous Operational Improvement and Efficiency, a practical, hands-on training designed to help farm teams streamline operations, reduce waste, and strengthen a culture of continuous improvement. Just three spots remain for this workshop!

Lean Management is a proven, team-based approach to identifying and eliminating waste in farm systems to enhance safety, quality, and efficiency. Through this workshop series, farm teams will work together as they learn practical tools to solve real on-farm problems, standardize best practices, and sustain ongoing improvements across all areas of their operation.

Participants can expect measurable results and lasting improvements, including higher productivity through fewer delays and smoother workflows; safer work environments with clearer standards and reduced risks; more engaged employees who contribute ideas and take ownership; lower costs by cutting waste in time, materials, and motion; and sustained success with measurable outcomes and continuous improvement.

The program combines hands-on classroom learning with real-farm application, giving teams the opportunity to immediately apply Lean Management tools to improvement projects on their own farms. Each team will collaborate with other dairy farms in the cohort, receive facilitator support while implementing real-world improvement projects, develop a clear and measurable action plan, and benefit from follow-up coaching to ensure long-term success. Teams are encouraged to choose a project that is meaningful, measurable, and within their authority to improve. Example project areas include cattle care and milking operations, feeding and ingredient management, manure handling and clean-up routines, field operations, equipment staging and repairs, purchasing and inventory management, and employee onboarding or performance management. Program facilitators Dr. Kaitlyn Lutz and Dr. Richard Stup are available to assist teams in defining and selecting suitable projects.

This program is ideal for farms committed to long-term success and strong employee engagement. Farms located in Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, and Wyoming (GLOW region) counties will receive priority, but all farms across New York State are welcome to apply and attend at Genesee Community College. Each participating farm must register a team of 2–3 people, which can include managers, team leaders, or employees directly involved in farm operations.

Continuous improvement requires collaboration, shared understanding, and buy-in from multiple perspectives. By working as a team, farms build the systems thinking and shared context necessary to create lasting, effective change. Each team will designate a facilitator to help guide their project and ensure steady progress. Farms may select their own qualified facilitator or request assistance in identifying one for the program.

The program cost is $1,080 per farm, which covers training for 2–3 farm participants plus their facilitator. This fee includes all workshop sessions, materials, and meals.

Farms must attend all three workshops to complete the program, scheduled for February 4, February 11, and February 18, 2025, at Genesee Community College in Batavia, New York. The registration fee includes three full-day Lean Management workshops, supporting books and materials, as well as coffee, light refreshments, and lunch each day.

Spaces are limited. To apply or learn more about the program, contact Kaitlyn Lutz at kal263@cornell.edu.

The Lean Management Workshop Series equips farm teams with the tools and mindset needed for continuous operational improvement. By empowering employees, enhancing efficiency, and reducing waste, Lean Management helps farms build safer, more productive, and more sustainable businesses for the future.

Fee

$1080 per farm

Last updated December 15, 2025