Ohio Farm Transition Network Hosts International Farm Succession Coordinator Training in Wooster, Ohio

OSU Extension, in partnership with the Ohio Farm Transition Network (OFTN), recently hosted the International Farm Transition Network’s (IFTN) Certified Farm Succession Coordinator Training on April 20–22 at the Secrest Arboretum Welcome and Education Center on the OSU CFAES Wooster Campus.

The sold-out, three-day training brought together 30 agricultural professionals from across Ohio, including attorneys, accountants, lenders, insurance agents, Extension educators, and other service providers. The training marked an important step forward in strengthening farm transition planning for Ohio’s agricultural industry.

This intensive 20-hour program equipped participants with facilitation tools and proven strategies to help farm families thoughtfully and strategically plan for the transition of farm assets, management, and decision-making to the next generation. Trained farm succession coordinators play a critical role in guiding families through complex conversations by clarifying goals, exploring transition options, and fostering effective family communication.

Instructors for this training included Joy Kirkpatrick, Farm Succession Outreach Specialist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Kiley Fleming, Executive Director of the Iowa Mediation Service, and David Marrison, OSU Extension Field Specialist in Farm Management. Upon completion of the program, the participants are eligible to sit for the certification exam to become a Certified IFTN Farm Succession Coordinator.

Beyond professional development, the training highlighted the growing momentum behind the newly launched Ohio Farm Transition Network. OFTN is a statewide initiative formed through a collaboration of leading agricultural organizations committed to improving the consistency, quality, and accessibility of farm transition planning resources for Ohio farm families.

Founding members of the Ohio Farm Transition Network  include AgCredit, Farm Credit Mid-America, Nationwide, Ohio Corn and Wheat, Ohio Department of Agriculture, Ohio Farm Bureau, Ohio Soybean Council, Ohio State University Extension, and the USDA Farm Service Agency. For more information about the Ohio Farm Transition Network, upcoming programs, or membership opportunities, visit:
https://farmoffice.osu.edu/farm-transition/ohio-farm-transition-network