Conference to address farm succession, trusts and retirement planning

South Dakota State University Extension will continue assisting farmers and ranchers with estate and farm transition planning through its final Sustaining the Legacy conference in 2026.

The conference is scheduled for March 3, 10 and 17, 2026, at the SDSU Extension Regional Center in Watertown, South Dakota. Early registration is $70 per person if completed up to two weeks before the conference. Registration increases to $80 after that deadline. Participants must register at extension.sdstate.edu/events and search “legacy.”

Heather Gessner, SDSU Extension interim Agriculture and Natural Resources Program Director and Livestock Business Management Field Specialist, said finding qualified professionals is an important step in developing an estate plan.

“Most farmers and ranchers know they need a professional to help with estate planning,” Gessner said. “Industry professionals can help the farm and family implement plans that accomplish their goals. However, not knowing where to find those professionals can hinder the development of the estate plan.”

She said farms and ranches often rely on a range of advisers for production decisions and should take a similar approach to transition planning.

“When it comes to farming, there are many professionals involved. Farmers have their seed specialists, soil fertility specialists, and pest specialists as favorite contacts in their phone. They should also consider their estate and transition plan specialists and list them as favorites on their phone,” Gessner said.

Gessner noted the value of assets involved in farm transitions, the range of family dynamics and the need to navigate programs offered through agencies such as the Farm Service Agency and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. The variation in farm and ranch size, logistics and goals requires professionals who understand estate planning complexities, she said.

“Knowing where to go for help is a huge component of creating a successful plan,” Gessner said. “If you assemble a strong crop production team, you typically achieve good yields. If you put together a good transition team, you end up with a family that understands the family goals, the right tools in place to accomplish the goals, and a family legacy you can be proud of.”

The conference is designed for farm and ranch families at all stages of the planning process. Participants will learn methods to transfer farm and ranch assets and businesses, while also providing financial inheritances to nonfarming heirs.

Presenters will include estate planning and ranch transition attorneys, along with other industry professionals.

Topics will include trusts; business structures such as limited liability companies, limited liability limited partnerships and corporations; life insurance; wills and probate; property titling; contracts; retirement planning for landowners; accessing retirement benefits including Medicare and Social Security; and elder and end-of-life care planning.

“There are so many parts to consider in an estate or transition plan that it’s easy to put off,” Gessner said. “And it’s easy to put off doing things we don’t fully understand. I hope to teach attendees about the parts and take away the mystery about the process.”

For more information, contact Heather Gessner at SDSU Extension.

PHOTO: Aerial view of property released farm buildings in South Dakota. (Adobe Stock │ #280402999 – Wollwerth Imagery)