MADISON, WI – The UW-Madison Division of Extension, in collaboration with the International Farm Transition Network (IFTN), is offering the Certified Farm Succession Coordinator Training, specifically designed to equip agriculture service professionals to facilitate the complex conversations involved in farm and ranch succession.
Successfully transferring farm and ranch assets to the next generation requires more than just crafting a business structure or developing an estate plan. Professionals in the agriculture sector increasingly recognize that this vital process also includes the transfer of management, navigating inheritance issues, and importantly, addressing the significant role of human emotions. The economic future of agriculture depends heavily on the ability of the next generation to access the necessary land and business assets, making skilled succession planning facilitation crucial. Farm and ranch operators themselves are realizing the importance of creating a succession plan.
This specialized training is tailored for anyone who wishes to learn how to facilitate conversations around farm/ranch succession planning. Participants will gain:
- Insight on the tensions commonly encountered around farm succession.
- Strategies on working with families as they navigate their succession journey.
- Facilitation tools specifically designed to guide this complex process.
- Opportunities to consider real-life examples through farm succession case studies.
The program is led by experienced instructors, Kiley Fleming Ed. D., Executive Director of the Iowa Mediation Service, and Joy Kirkpatrick, Farm Succession Outreach Specialist with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension. Together, they bring over 45 years of combined succession planning experience to the training.
A live virtual training session is scheduled for June 2025. This session will take place over four half-days:
- Monday, June 2, 2025, 10:00 am – 1:30 pm Central Time
- Friday, June 6, 2025, 10:00 am – 1:30 pm Central Time
- Tuesday, June 10, 2025, 10:00 am – 1:30 pm Central Time
- Thursday, June 12, 2025, 10:00 am – 1:30 pm Central Time
To ensure a positive learning experience, the virtual training is limited to 20 participants, and attendees must attend all four virtual days. Homework assignments will be given between the live Zoom sessions.
Participants who successfully pass an exam following the training will be certified. This certification allows them to be listed on the IFTN website as a coordinator and use the designation in their professional bios and email signatures. Please note that certification requires collecting 30 continuing education credits or points every three years.
We still have space in the June 2025 training. The cost is $1,000 per person and registration closes on Friday, May 16, 2025, and registration must be paid in full by this date. The registration fee includes training materials, live virtual instruction, and a 2025-26 International Farm Transition Network membership. Organizations registering three or more individuals together can receive a group discount of $50 per person. Register here: https://uwmadison.eventsair.com/june25training/reg
For questions regarding the training, please contact Joy Kirkpatrick, University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension Farm Succession Outreach Specialist, at joy.kirkpatrick@wisc.edu or 608.263.3485.
