By Scout Nelson
Nebraska Extension will host a Farm and Ranch Transition workshop on Tuesday, Dec. 2, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Kimball County Transit Service Conference Room in Kimball. With more than half of U.S. farmland expected to change ownership in the next two decades, the event focuses on helping agricultural families prepare their operations for the future.
Transition planning is a major issue for rural communities. It is more than deciding who receives land; it is about preparing the next generation to take on leadership roles and ensuring long-term business stability. Without a plan, operations risk financial challenges, family disagreements, and the loss of a legacy built over many years.
Several key reasons highlight why transition planning is essential:
• Over 70 percent of farm transitions fail when no formal plan exists.
• Seniors own more than 40 percent of U.S. farmland, yet only a small number have written succession plans.
• Nebraska’s rural economy depends on the continuity of farm and ranch operations.
Workshops like this give participants practical tools to begin planning. Attendees will hear from Attorney Pamela Olsen of Pamela Epp Olsen Law, who will discuss inheritance laws, business structure options, and how to ensure fair treatment of both on-operation and off-operation beneficiaries.
A panel of producers who have completed their transition plans will also share lessons learned, including what worked well and what challenges they encountered.
Registration is $20, and a noon meal is included. Space is limited, and participants are asked to register by Wednesday, November 26. Registration is available online at nebraskagrazinglands.org/events or by calling the Kimball-Banner Counties Extension Office at 308-235-3122.
This workshop is supported by a grant from the Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Nebraska Extension continues to offer educational programs that follow the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
For more information, contact Chabella Guzman, communications specialist, at 308-632-1252 or cguzman2@unl.edu.
Photo Credit:pexels-fauxels
Categories: Nebraska, Rural Lifestyle, Farm Safety