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As a new year begins, families are busy planning for special occasions, sporting events, holidays, and more. But something else to think about when it comes to planning is the success of your farm or operation for the next generation. This can be done through succession planning.
Dr. Ron Hanson, Harlan Agribusiness Professor Emeritus, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, was a guest speaker on the Ohio Farm Bureau Podcast about his upcoming opportunity to speak at the 2025 Ohio Farm Bureau Winter Leadership Experience regarding succession planning. Planning for the future of your farm can often be a very rigid experience. Dr. Hanson helps counsel farm families to resolve conflicts while helping the next generation assure their financial future on the family farm while also assuring the generation aging out that the legacy will continue.
“One of the challenging questions I will ask is, if something happened today, unexpectedly and suddenly, does everyone in the family know and understand what happens tomorrow?” Hanson said.
Less than 20% of families have a succession plan in place, according to a recent market study. While these conversations can be emotional and challenging, it can be the most important decision you make for the future of your operation.
Meet Dr. Hanson at Winter Leadership Experience
Winter Leadership Experience conference attendees will be able to network with Dr. Hanson about this subject during his session at the Winter Leadership Experience. New this year, members of all ages are welcome to attend, providing a great opportunity for multi-generations to attend, learn and begin planning for the future of their family farms and legacies together.
Interested in learning more about succession planning?
Nationwide’s Land as Your Legacy program provides families with the resources needed to preserve the land and businesses they have worked hard to build for generations. A Farm Bureau family in Jefferson County had great success with the program. Read about their experience here.
2025 Winter Leadership Experience
Feb 7-8, Kalahari Conventions and Resorts, Sandusky. Registration due Jan. 22
My first recommendation in your journey is to start out with a local farming friend or mentor along with joining an organization like Ohio Farm Bureau.
We’re just so thankful for the Farm Bureau and the foundation for helping put this together. And of course, the Boyert family for the vision they had with this grant. It’s jumping us forward 10 years. It’s unbelievable.
I could not have done it without the resources I have found through Farm Bureau.
It wasn’t until I joined the Wilmington College Collegiate Farm Bureau that I truly saw how my passion could translate into leadership, advocacy and a career.
The issue of property taxation remains as one of the biggest challenges our members face today. Ensuring agricultural property is valued for its agricultural potential and not development is critical to the continued success of Ohio agriculture.
Through the Select Partner program, we became educated in farm insurance and weren't just selling policies. It became more and more clear why farmers need an advocate like Ohio Farm Bureau.
So many of the issues that OFBF and its members are advocating for are important to all Ohioans. I look at OFBF as an agricultural watchdog advocating for farmers and rural communities across Ohio.
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