Estate planning workshops scheduled
Sep 17, 2009 9:54 AM
Planning for the disposition of the family farm or business can be an emotional task, but experts say planning is key to ensuring the future of the family’s land or business.
A series of public workshops to ease the burden of farmland estate planning will take place Oct. 27 at the University of Tennessee’s West Tennessee Research and Education Center in Jackson, Tenn.; Oct. 29 at the UT Visitor Center in Knoxville; and Nov. 7 at the Lane Agri-Park Community Center in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Topics will include family communication, business and estate planning, record-keeping, and conservation easements.
“The workshops help landowners to start a dialogue with their families and plan today for the future of their farm,” said Alice Rhea, a UT Extension farm management specialist.
Registration is open and the early conference registration fee is $25 through Oct. 19. After that date, the registration fee will be $40. The registration fee includes morning and afternoon refreshments, lunch, and resource materials. Space is limited so early registration is encouraged.
Online registration is available at the Web site: http://www.farmlandlegacy.org/.
Participants may also register by mail or phone. Contact UT Conferences at (865) 974-0264 for information and instructions. Forms for mailing may also be downloaded at local UT Extension offices, but those forms must be mailed to UT Conferences.
Tim Cross, dean of UT Extension, encourages producers to attend one of the events. “Many farm families work hard for a lifetime to generate income and accumulate land, machinery, and financial assets to support their family,” he said. “It is crucial that these families learn how to plan for the future of their estates, ensuring that their family continues to be taken care of in the future.”
The workshops are coordinated by University of Tennessee Extension, in cooperation with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation, The Land Trust for Tennessee, and USDA Rural Development.
Support for this project was received from USDA through the Southern Region Risk Management Education Center (SRRMEC) and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.
