The Farmland Access Hub partners with many regional organizations that host both online and in-person events to train and support beginning farmers, as well as exiting farmers/landowners. These events are not only educational for participants but are often a means of networking and community strengthening. Please check back regularly for updates to our events schedule.
We welcome suggestions for events that serve the needs of farmers and landowners. Please contact bonnie@rtcinfo.org with ideas or questions about land access-related events.
Events
January 2025
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Farm Transition Planning 101: What’s next for you and your land?
America’s farms have hit a critical point. Most of our food and fiber producers are over 55, while young and beginning farmers—due to debt and insurmountable challenges around farming and farmland access—are only replacing these producers at a rate of 9%. Additionally, the devastating and rapid loss of farmland in the U.S. to poorly planned developmental sprawl and foreign investors is pointing toward an impending food system crisis.
The Farmland Access Hub and Renewing the Countryside, along with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), Land Stewardship Project (LSP), Region Nine Development Commission (RNDC), American Farmland Trust (AFT), Michigan Farmlink, and others, are working to mitigate these issues by creating educational and networking opportunities for landowners and farmers around legacy planning and farmland transition.
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Whether you are interested in renting, selling, or transitioning your farm to a new owner this 1.5 hour program is designed to help landowners and retiring farmers:
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Identify and overcome fears and challenges as they think through the next steps for their land.
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Learn about available resources to get started on transition planning (and how to use them).
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Gain comfort discussing "sticky" topics when it comes to "retirement" including passing on land and/or business operations to heirs or unrelated land stewards.
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Decide who needs to be on their transition planning team
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Take the first steps toward implementing a transition plan
This session will be led by special guest Jim Molenaar, Farm Succession Coordinator at the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Landholders will have the opportunity to share and discuss their specific challenges and scenarios with peers with facilitated support from farm succession coordinators and land transfer specialists.
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Jim's Bio:
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Jim Molenaar has a wide variety of experience with farm families during his forty-three-year career in
agriculture education. His primary work was as a farm business management instructor (one-on-one
education with farmers), farm mediator, farm succession/transition education specialist, MDA
Minnesota Department of Agriculture Rural Finance Authority Board Member and MDA Farm Advocate.
Now retired, he does contract work for the Southern MN Center for Agriculture and Minnesota
Department of Agriculture as their Farm Succession Coordinator providing seminars and individual
counseling in farm succession. Over his career, he has been recognized as the Minnesota Young
Agriculture Instructor, and later the Minnesota Outstanding Agriculture Educator. Jim recently
published and illustrated a book available on Amazon, “True Tales of a One-Time Farm Boy!” Jim and his
wife Laura have been married for forty years and are parents of three grown children who loved
grandma’s farm but have found occupations in education and the medical field.
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Register for Farm Transition Planning 101
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwtdeGhqjsvHdMCY9JWYnolu-gok_XPTyp5
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February 2025
If you are a beginning or aspiring farmer interested in planning for land access (or if you know someone please pass this information along) consider participating in the Land Stewardship Project's upcoming "Land Access: Are You Ready?" workshop:
WHEN: Saturday, February 1st, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (come at 9:30 for coffee & conversation)
WHERE: Inver Glen Library, 8098 Blaine Ave. E, Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076
WHAT:
* Understand things to consider when making decisions about land access
* Do some hands-on work
* Network with farmers regarding land access issues
FEE: $35/ person; $50/ farm (2-3 people) includes materials and lunch
This workshop is designed with the understanding that accessing land is one of the most complex decisions a farmer will make. If you are a new or aspiring farmer, this workshop will help you with strategies and tools to approach your land access journey with confidence. You’ll engage in participatory activities as well as hear directly from farmers about the creative land access methods they have used to secure land tenure.
There will be resource people on-hand to provide guidance and understanding about:
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financing options,
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easements,
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soils,
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additional resources and programs to help you plan for, find, and afford farmland
Resource professionals from:
Farm Service Agency (FSA), MN Department of Agriculture (MDA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), plus beginning farmers telling their land access stories!
Land Stewardship Project and Renewing the Countryside staff
will present at and guide this workshop.
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For more information, contact LSP’s Karen Stettler at stettler@landstewardshipproject.org
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Past Events
Join Us!
The 2023 Farmland Summit will bring together thought leaders, change agents, policymakers, and practitioners from around the Upper Midwest to dig into critical challenges and opportunities related to farmland access and transfer.
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Your Farm’s Future Steward: What to consider before making your land available to the next generation.
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Landowner Webinar
Webinar 1: Tuesday, February 6, 2024 from 5:30–6:30 p.m. (optional Q&A 6:30-7:00 p.m.)
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Webinar 2: Tuesday, February 13, 2024 from NOON–1:00 p.m. (optional Q&A from 1:00–1:30 p.m.)
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Event host: The Farmland Access Hub
Partners: Land Stewardship Project; Renewing the Countryside; Region Nine Development Commission; University of Minnesota Extension; Sand County Foundation
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For questions contact bonnie@rtcinfo.org/612.462.9311
Are you interested in renting your land to a beginning farmer? Is it time to start thinking about transitioning your farm to a new steward? What should be considered—and where do you begin?
Please join the Farmland Access Hub for an introduction to making your land available to the next generation of farmers. This online event is FREE for farmland owners in the Midwest and beyond.
Whether you are interested in renting, selling, or transitioning your farm to a new owner, the information provided during this 1-hour program is geared to help landowners and retiring farmers start thinking about the next steps for their land. Goals include:
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Reaching a deeper understanding of the issues around farmland access—and how landowners can take the reigns in addressing this dilemma head-on.
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Discovering the unique needs and challenges of current and future farmers to help ensure a successful rental contract or ownership transition.
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Learning about the resources available to aid in planning for bringing new stewards onto the land.
Participants will hear about both the land-seeking farmer and exiting-farmer perspectives when it comes to farmland access. All are welcome to attend the optional 30-minute Q&A following programming.
Bring your questions and your curiosity to one of two online events (or both), which are offered at different times to increase accessibility to attendees.