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Advancing Farm Transition Education Through Online Programming

David Marrison and Robert Moore

Summary

Ohio State University Extension has expanded its efforts to reduce farm transition and estate planning risk through a comprehensive set of online educational programs and resources. The annual winter Zoom based webinar series titled “Planning for the Future of Your Farm” continues to serve as an effective outreach tool, delivering research based instruction to producers across Ohio and beyond. Since 2021, the series has engaged 414 participants from 166 farms, representing 67% of Ohio counties. Evaluation results demonstrate strong learning outcomes: 97.7% of participants reported being better equipped to begin the transition or succession process and to address farm communication issues, and 97.5% reported an improved understanding of legal tools relevant to transition and estate planning. Building on this demand, OSU Extension has developed a new asynchronous online course through Ohio State’s Professional and Continuing Education platform. Using OSU Extension’s structured five phase framework, the course guides families through their planning by emphasizing intergenerational communication, legal and financial planning tools, and long term strategic decision making. The four module curriculum supports farms of all sizes in developing a shared vision for the future. Enrollment for this course opened in September 2025. To complement these programs, OSU Extension maintains the Farm Office Law Library at farmoffice.osu.edu which provides publicly accessible publications and tools. Its estate and transition planning collection offers additional guidance for families preparing for generational transfer. This presentation will share more about these on-line resources and how financial support was secured to develop the on-line course.

Details

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