By Blake Jackson
Farm succession can be one of the most complex and emotional decisions farm families face, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension is helping to make that process easier.
The Cultivating Your Farm’s Future workshop series will be led by Extension Farm Management Specialists Joy Kirkpatrick, Steph Plaster, Kelly Wilfert, and Kevin Bernhardt.
This program is designed to provide farm families with the tools and strategies needed to begin or continue their succession planning journey.
The workshops are structured around a three-step process: evaluating where the farm is today, identifying future goals, and developing a practical plan to reach those goals. By working through these steps, participants will be better prepared to communicate ideas, set goals, and save time when consulting with attorneys, accountants, and other professionals.
The program is intended for farm businesses and families thinking about ownership transfer or long-term planning. Owners may be seeking ways to pass the farm on to the next generation or fairly distribute inheritance, while younger generations may have questions about roles, financial feasibility, and business sustainability. Multiple family members are encouraged to attend together to foster open communication.
Key topics will include succession communication strategies, common sources of tension, inheritance distribution, financial considerations, estate planning, wills and trusts, and SWOT analysis. Participants will also work on setting goals and identifying action steps for their operations.
Two workshop series will be offered: November 13 through December 11, 2025, with an optional follow-up on January 15, 2026; and February 5 through February 26, 2026, with an optional session on March 19, 2026. All sessions will be held virtually on Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 PM.
Registration costs $150 per farm, which covers materials, workbooks, manuals, and access to course videos. Space is limited to 20 farms per series, with deadlines set for October 24, 2025, and January 16, 2026, respectively.
More details and registration are available online at https://uwmadison.eventsair.com/farm2526/reg. For questions, contact Joy Kirkpatrick at joy.kirkpatrick@wisc.edu or 608-263-3485.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-shotbydave
Categories: Wisconsin, Business, Education