01/14/2026
Many farm and ranch families are struggling with the many questions surrounding the transfer of their property to the next generation. How can I be fair to all the kids? Who will take over running this place? Who will take care of me in my last years, months, and days? What can I do to help my passing be easier on those left behind? This is a critical issue to get our youth back into our communities and the future of our farms and ranches. CSU Extension is hosting a workshop in Springfield to help people find some answers.
Jeff Tranel, Agricultural and Business Economist with Colorado State University, has talked to many groups and with many individual farm and ranch families across the country during his 35+year career. As he witnessed families struggling with transferring everything to the next generation, he and two colleagues authored a program titled “Leaving a Lasting Legacy”. According to Tranel, legacy planning includes more than simply having an attorney draft an estate plan. A person leaves more than just money and property. In fact, a national study discovered that non-financial items are ten times more important than financial assets to transition onto the next generation.