Resources for Coordinators

The IFTN provides training on farm transition and succession planning coordination. This page features a schedule of upcoming webinars and an archive of past recordings for farm transition professionals.

Farm Succession Recertification Requirements

Certification flowchart.
Englarge Flowchart

CEU Reporting Links

Upcoming Webinars

For Certified Coordinators/Service Professionals

Past Webinar Recordings

Breian Carroll, Managing Director and Senior Agronomist at Carroll Consultancy based in Mayo in the west of Ireland and Secretary-General of Ireland’s Agricultural Consultants Association (ACA), presenting the work he led on the Béal Átha na Muice Farm Succession and Wellbeing European Innovation Project.

Nicole Bettinger Zeidler a family business consultant from Wisconsin with the Family Business Consulting Group provides information for farm family businesses on:

1. Three Circle Model of the Family Business
2. Generations Working Together
3. Next Generation – What does the Next Gen need to know?
4. Senior Generation Leadership Shifts – First steps in transition planning

David Marrison, Field Specialist in Farm Management at Ohio State University Extension presenting the topic of ‘Preparing Clients for the Farm Transition Plan Experience’ For the International Farm Transition Network webinar series.

Heather Gessner, South Dakota State University Extension Farm Management Specialist offers steps that farm families can take to get their planning started. Sometimes getting families to “do the work” with their estate plan is the biggest first step. Join the Educational Session ESTATE PLANNING Contract Ownership Probate (COPs) to learn about the tools they can start updating. Once they take those steps, they are more likely to take the next steps.

The international applicability of a new social initiative for the farming community in Ireland called ‘Farmer’s Yards’ was presented by Dr Shane Conway from the Rural Studies Centre at the University of Galway, Ireland.

This webinar, offered on May 10th, 2023 as part of the IFTN’s continuing education program for its members and Certified Farm Succession Coordinators, explored how ‘Farmer’s Yards’ is helping address recent calls made by the European Commission for an increased emphasis on mechanisms that help older farmers enhance their quality of life by exploring possibilities under social policy by providing farmers with a platform to come together as a local peer group in a familiar and friendly ‘Livestock Mart’ (Auction Market) setting.

Joy Kirkpatrick, a Farm Succession Outreach Specialist for the University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension, presents the concept of the Messy Middle of farm succession planning. Kirkpatrick provides strategies and tools to help farm succession coordinators move farm members through the Messy Middle. Presented as a webinar for the International Farm Transition Network on March 16, 2023.

Certified Public Accountant, Blain Moats, of LattaHarris, LLP, discusses the tax implications of farm transition for United States farms. This webinar was offered on January 24, 2023, as part of the IFTN’s continuing education program for its members and Certified Farm Succession Coordinators.

Brandon Dirkschneider, CEO & Owner of Insurance Design Management, and International Farm Transition Network Board member, shares his perspective on insurance pitfalls with farm succession planning. This webinar was offered on November 3, 2022.

The International Farm Transition Network (IFTN) in collaboration with SDSU Extension offered an online training session on ‘Long-Term Care Impacts’ on Tuesday, September 27, 2022. Ohio State University Attorney and Research Specialist, Robert Moore provided the presentation and answered questions. Professionals that provide assistance to farm families will benefit from the information in this session.

The International Farm Transition Network (IFTN) in collaboration with SDSU Extension offered an online training session on ‘Family Meetings as a Succession Planning Tool’ on Wednesday, July 27, 2022. Wesley Tucker of University of Missouri Extension shared his experiences with family meetings and provided ideas and tools to make them an effective part of the succession planning process during this session. These tools should encourage better communication between family members and assist in the creation of an equitable farm transition. Professionals that provide assistance to families will benefit from the information in this program.