Design Your Succession Plan
For Farm and Ranch Families
The Situation
Impacts
Farm and ranch transition planning is emerging as a
critical need for North Dakota producers. Our state’s
farmers and ranchers now average roughly 60 years of
age, and many are looking toward retirement and
transitioning their businesses. Will our producers be
ready to transfer assets to whom they want, how they
want and when they want them transferred? Will they
transfer a viable business to the next generation?
Surveys completed by commodity groups and financial
institutions place a high priority on meeting the need for
educational programs addressing farm and ranch
transition planning.

After attending the program 32% of participants
reported an increase in understanding of
Succession Planning.

Participant reported a 39% increase in visioning
what they want to accomplish with a succession
plan.

72% of participants report they will begin a
succession plan in next 6 months.

Participants indicated a 93% increase in
knowledge of the information and documents
needed when beginning to work with
professionals in succession planning.
Extension Response
NDSU Extension developed a program titled Design
Your Success Plan which emphasizes the need to get
started, communicating with family as well as and
working with legal, tax and financial professionals to
create a plan. This program is designed to be taught by
our local Extension Agents. Agents were trained in the
program materials during the fall of 2014 with further
Agent trainings planned for 2015
The program was piloted at sites around North Dakota
during the winter of 2014/2015.
Program Objectives
 Define Succession Planning
 Get Started
 Vision the future
 Communicate with family
 Prepare to work with professionals
Feedback
“It is often hard to start the conversation and
through this workshop we now have the tools.”
Participant
“Very interesting, made me so much more aware of
the importance of planning.” Participant
“Excellent and valuable info, love the workbook and
tools we can take back to family” Participant
Professionals reviewing this program have
applauded NDSU Extension Service for giving
families a roadmap to communicate together before
visiting the attorney’s office.
Planning Team
Lori Scharmer
Willie Huot
Randy Grueneich
Ashley Ueckert
Crystal Schaunaman
Joel Lemer
Paige Brummund
Contact
Lori Scharmer, NDSU Extension Service
lori.scharmer@ndsu.edu
701.857.7682
County commissions, North Dakota State University and U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. North Dakota State University does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability,
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Vice President for Equity, Diversity and Global Outreach, 205 Old Main, (701) 231-7708. This publication will be made available in alternative formats for people with disabilities upon request,
(701) 231-7881. 2015