Webinar helps farmers address challenges of succession planning
On Wednesday, March 9, the Liberty Prairie Foundation, USDA, Food:Land:Opportunity, and The Land Conservancy of McHenry County are hosting a webinar, "Making Succession Planning a Success for Your Family & Farmland" from 9:30-11:30 a.m.
The cost is $10 per family, and families can register at www.bit.ly/FarmSuccessionWebinar.
The webinar will provide participants with tangible steps for developing a farm succession plan.
Panelists will cover the succession planning process, service providers needed, the value of a succession facilitator and tips on transitioning to nonfamily members.
Joy Kirkpatrick from the University of Wisconsin Center for Dairy Profitability will provide an understanding of the family dynamics that can keep families from diving into figuring out a plan, how to overcome those dynamics, and how a succession coordinator can help families work through issues efficiently and fairly.
Mike Downey of Next Gen Ag Advocates will help participants understand the other experts needed in the process, how to choose them, and the special considerations and features of succession process that ultimately transitions the farm to a nonfamily member.
In addition, participants will hear from two different farm families who have already made significant progress in their succession planning. They will share some of the lessons they learned and obstacles that needed to be overcome.
The Land Conservancy of McHenry County is a member-based private nonprofit dedicated to preserving natural, scenic and agricultural land. Learn more at conservemc.org or