The Need
Past Programs and Feedback
● Annie's Project
● Transition and Estate Planning
● Managing for Today and Tomorrow
Listening to our participants . . .
The Response
Laying the ground work . . .
● Multi-discipline taskforce
● What did and didn’t work list
● Focus on Getting Clients Started!!
● Focus on communication strategies
● Prepare to work with professionals
What is not started today
is never finished tomorrow.
– Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Extension’s niche . . .
Extension’s strengths . . .
● Local educators, local programs
● Unbiased, research based information
● No sales pitch
● Educate, share knowledge
● Provide tools to get started
Design Your Succession Plan
is developed
Design Your Succession Plan
Program Objectives
● Define Succession Planning
● Get Started
● Vision the future
● Communicate with family
● Prepare to work with professionals
Building the Program
● Taught by local agents
● 2 to 3 sessions
● Participant workbook
● Interactive sessions
● Case study discussions
● Additional resources
Program Materials
Participant
Binder
Participant
Workbook
“Excellent and valuable info, love the workbook
and tools we can take back to family”
quote from participant
Preparing Extension Agents
● Training
● Presenter’s Binders
● Weekly calls
● Mentorship
Module 1 – Getting Started
Succession planning is an umbrella term
Farm/Ranch Succession Planning
Business
planning
Retirement
planning
Transition
planning
Estate
planning
Module 1:
Activities,
Discussion
● Icebreaker question: Best/hardest/scariest part of
working on a succession plan?
● Meeting Ground Rules
● Case Study Discussion
● Retirement Activity
● Terms/definitions Puzzle Activity (stretch)
Module 2 – What YOU Want
Vision Your Future
Module 2:
Activities,
Discussion
● Case Study Discussion
● Heirloom Scale (stretch)
● Vision/Goal-writing Activity
● SWOT Analysis
● Rating Lifestyle Values &
Choices
Module 3 - The Next
Generation and Your Legacy
Module 3:
Activities, Discussion
● Case Study Discussion
● Rating Your Comfort Level Worksheet
Module 4 – Family Meetings
and Conversations
Communication is the cornerstone
to a successful succession plan.
Getting generations together to talk
openly and honestly about their wants,
needs and goals is critical.
Module 4:
Activities, Discussion
● Communication Self-Assessment Exercise
● Case Study
● Using a Talking Stick
● Brainstorm Family Meeting
Ground Rules
● General discussion
Module 5 – Working with
Professionals
Professional Services Needed in Succession Planning
Module 5:
Activities,
Discussion
● Case Study
● Send Yourself a
Reminder
● Review of Action
Steps
Feedback . . .
“It is often hard to start the
conversation and through this workshop
we now have the tools.” participant
The Impacts . . .
Defining
●32%
increase in ability to define
Succession Planning
before
after
The Impacts . . .
Visioning
● 39% increase in visioning what they
want.
4.15
2.98
before
after
The Impacts . . .
Getting Started
● 72% of participants report they will
begin a succession plan in next 6
months
28%
72%
The Impacts . . .
Working with Professionals
● 93% increase in knowledge of
working with professionals
4.34
2.25
before
after
Feedback . . .
“Very interesting, made me so much more
aware of the importance of planning.”
participant
Program Revisions
● Change case study format
● Agent presentations more concise
● More time for discussion and activities
● More time in workbook
● Assign Homework
● Incorporate professional speaker
Next Steps . . .
● Follow up with participants
● Offer Succession Planning training
for Professionals
● Offer program throughout North
Dakota
● Develop an online program
Design Your Success Plan
Planning Team
Lori Scharmer
Crystal Schaunaman
Willie Huot
Joel Lemer
Randy Grueneich
Paige Brummund
Ashley Ueckert
Contact Information
Lori Scharmer, NDSU Extension Service
lori.scharmer@ndsu.edu
701.857.7682
Crystal Schaunaman, NDSU Extension Service
crystal.schaunaman@ndsu.edu
701.288.3465