by Amber Roberts, Extension educator
The intergenerational transition of farms and land requires both planning and communication. If there isn't communication on the front end, all of the planning and legal tools used will not hold in the long term. Strong communication throughout the transition process can ensure that the wishes of the retiring generation are met and can preserve the heritage of the land and farm. Family Resiliency Extension Educator Becky Hagen Jokela and Forestry Extension Educator Mike Reichenbach discuss tools to help improve family communication during the transition process. They also share their personal stories of transitioning a family cabin and a 5th generation working farm to highlight the complexities and importance of family communication.
Tools for Effective Communication:
Grandma's Yellow Pie Plate: This tool helps families address common decision making obstacles when passing on personal, non-titled possessions.Getting the Conversation Going: How do you start a conversation about what is important to you? The first step in building a successful plan for land transfer is communication between the current owners and the heirs. These conversations are not easy. When people fail to sort out what is most important to them, the result is often misunderstandings, wrong assumptions, and conflict. These worksheets can help heirs and retiring owners get the conversation started around maintaining harmony, fairness, and discovering personal values.
- Worksheet for Heirs
- Worksheet for Retiring Owners
- Discussion Guide
- Virtual Worksheet with Automatic Feedback
