The University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension is offering a Fall/Winter series of Shoebox to Strategy: Organizing Your Farm Legacy. This online workshop series is designed to help farm families move from the “I need to do this someday” mindset to having their vital records fully organized and ready for the future.
With a start date of Friday, November 13, 2026, the series provides a step-by-step roadmap for farm owners and successors to build a centralized collection of essential legal, financial, and personal documents. By moving vital records from the proverbial “shoebox” into a strategic binder and spreadsheet, families can better protect their operations in the event of an accident, illness, or untimely death.
“Every farm knows it should organize essential documents, but the task is easy to delay,” says Kelly Wilfert, Division of Extension’s Farm Law Statewide Outreach Specialist and instructor for the series. This series uses guided, live virtual instruction to simplify the process, helping participants prepare for meetings with attorneys and accountants that can significantly reduce the time and cost of professional estate planning.
Participants in the program will:
- Inventory farm assets and create a “Shoebox to Strategy” binder for quick emergency access
- Work through templates to document specific transition goals and farm transfer scenarios
- Gain confidence in their plans for carrying on the farm’s legacy
The program has already received high praise from past participants. One 2025 attendee noted the series “will save our children a load of grief should we pass away unexpectedly,” while another called it a “wonderful road map to get organized and feel confident.”
Program Details
- When: The series begins November 13, 2026, with subsequent required sessions on January 8, January 22, and February 5, 2027. Optional sessions follow on February 19 and March 5, 2027. All sessions take place from noon–1:30 p.m. CT.
- Where: Virtually via Zoom
- Cost: $250 per farm, which covers participation for up to two people.
- Class Materials: The course materials will be mailed following the November 13 virtual session so participants can begin organizing their information between November and the next session on January 8.
- Registration: Limited to 20 farms to ensure a personalized learning environment. The registration deadline is Tuesday, November 12, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
For more information or to register, visit the UW–Madison Extension Farm Management Shoebox to Strategy webpage or contact either Joy Kirkpatrick at joy.kirkpatrick@wisc.edu or Kelly Wilfert at kelly.wilfert@wisc.edu.