SECURING BEGINNING FARMERS THROUGH SUCCESSION PLANNING PROJECT

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: OTHER GRANTS
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 1007378
• Grant No.: 2015-70017-23896
• Cumulative Award Amt.: $496,914.00
• Proposal No.: 2015-04545
• Project Start Date: Sep 1, 2015
• Project End Date: Aug 31, 2018
• Grant Year: 2015
• Program Code: [BFRDA]- Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, Standard

Recipient Organization
EASTER SEALS WISCONSIN INC
101 NOB HILL RD STE 301
MADISON,WI 53713

Performing Department
FARM Program

Non Technical Summary
A partnership of Easter Seals Wisconsin (ESW), Wisconsin Farm Center (WFC), and University of Wisconsin-Extension (UWEX), the Securing Beginning Farmers Through Succession Planning Standard project, in keeping with BFRDP goals, addresses the need of Wisconsin farmers who do not have succession plans in place (56% of farmers over the age of 55) to ensure the successful transition of farm operations to the next generation of beginning farmers.The long-term goal of the project is to increase the number of beginning farmers in Wisconsin and to enhance their sustainability, with the primary objective to provide the outreach and individualized, on farmsite, guidance, information and technical assistance necessary for farmers and farm families to develop and implement effective and sustainable succession plans for their farm business operations to transition to the next generation of beginning farmers.UWEX will provide statewide outreach to farmers and families; WFC Facilitators and ESW FARM Specialists will provide senior farm operators and beginning farmers with the guidance, knowledge and tools needed to make informed decisions on continuation of the farm business, retirement plans, and financial, tax and inheritance issues.A minimum of 120 farmers and farm families will be guided and supported through the succession planning process, resulting in at least 57 beginning farmers who will have a secure and effective, sustainable plan in place for them to assume management of their own farm business operation, as a result of this project.

Animal Health Component

(N/A)

Research Effort Categories

Basic

(N/A)

Applied

(N/A)

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
801	6020	3030	100%

Knowledge Area
801 - Individual and Family Resource Management;

Subject Of Investigation
6020 - The family and its members;

Field Of Science
3030 - Information and communication;

Keywords

beginning farmer

succession planning

Goals / Objectives
GOAL 1: ESW will identify 40 farmers, family members and farm workers who do not currently have a succession plan and are interested in developing a plan, in each of the three project years. A minimum of 120 farmers will receive succession planning services by project end. Goal 1 addresses the identification of former, current and future FARM clients and all farmers over the age of 55 lacking succession plans to successfully transfer their farm operations to beginning farmers and ensure their success.Goal 1 Outcomes establish that 1) ESW will identify 40 farm operators in each project year who do not have a succession plan, through targeted outreach to former and new FARM clients identified as age 55 and older (estimated at 756 farmers with no succession plans), to whom ESW specialists will provide individual information, guidance, encouragement and support to begin the succession planning process. 2) UWEX will market and promote project services, conduct statewide outreach on the importance of succession planning and the services offered by the Securing Beginning Farmers Through Succession Planning project, and offer one regional meeting each year to farmers and farm families for information sharing on succession planning.A minimum of 120 farmers, farm families and farm workers identified over the three-year project period will receive succession planning services by project end. Project activities will increase the number of beginning farmers identified in succession plans to assume management of farm operations.GOAL 2: A minimum of 57 farmers, family members and farm workers who received project services will complete succession plans for their farm business operations by the end of the three-year project period, and will be encouraged to provide their completed plans to an attorney for implementation.Goal 2 addresses the farm business succession planning process. Goal 2 Outcomes establish that a minimum of 57 farmers will complete succession plans over the three-year project period. These farmers will be encouraged by WFC to complete the process by providing their completed plans to an attorney for implementation. Those farmers completing succession plans and identified as lacking a successor to assume operation of the farm, will be referred to programs to put them in contact with interested beginning farmers who lack a farm connection.Succession planning services will include a farm site visit to the farmer and farm family by a WFC facilitator together with an ESW FARM specialist, with follow up provided through additional visits or phone calls and emails. Services are described in the following section.A successful outcome for this goal means that a minimum of 57 succession plans will be created, providing the opportunity for 57 beginning farmers to successfully begin farming, or transition from a farm worker role to a primary operator role on a family farm.GOAL 3: Each year of the project, ESW will evaluate and measure outcome-based data to evaluate project impact, as well as project efficacy for improvement to client services and project activities to ensure maximum impact of the project.Goal 3 addresses the measurement and evaluation of project outcomes and project efficacy. Goal 3 Outcomes establish: 1) Monthly and quarterly project meetings to review project activities, goals and progress toward outcomes, utilizing feedback to make improvements to project design or methods, 2) A survey of all participants at the end of each project year to measure satisfaction with services, knowledge gained, changes in attitude and behavior, plan implementation through an attorney, number of participants without an identified beginning farmer, and number of (those) participants who have connected with a beginning farmer, 3) Follow-up survey at project end to evaluate overall project services and processes to identify strengths and weaknesses, and improvements that would increase the success of the project and quality of the service, and 4) Compilation and analysis of data for project reporting.

Project Methods
The efforts of the project will be through specialists identifing those farmers without a succession plan and/or a successor, and will devote from 10 - 20 hours per client of additional time to discuss with the farmers and families the importance of succession planning, the process necessary to ensure transition of their farm operation to the next generation of beginning farmers, and available project services. They will provide guidance, encouragement and support to begin the succession planning process and assist in that process (see Goal 2).UWEX will develop and organize one annual regional meeting each year of the project at a community location or farm, in different areas of the state each year, for information sharing with farmers and farm families on succession planning. Speakers will present information about farm succession planning and project services.UWEX will market and promote the Securing Beginning Farmers Through Succession Planning project and services, create awareness of the importance of succession planning, and provide information on resources such as UWEX Returning to the Farm workshops to farmers throughout the state, through quarterly newsletters, E-notices, and website updates. UWEX will prepare press releases and public service announcements, and secure coverage through radio and agricultural newspapers annually. UWEX will distribute project information and farm succession educational materials at farm shows, conferences and technology fairs, to increase awareness of the services of the project.WFC facilitators will then provide project services to identified farmers to develop succession plans; 12 farmers and farm families will complete a succession plan in the first year. The number of farmers successfully completing a succession plan will increase by 50 percent in each of the following two years: 18 farmers in year 2, and 27 farmers in year 3.Succession planning services will include an initial farm site visit to the farmer and farm family by a WFC facilitator together with an ESW specialist, who will provide support in exploring family issues that may arise during succession planning discussion and that do not often occur with accountants or attorneys. Follow up will be provided as needed through additional visits or phone calls and emails. WFC facilitators, certified as farm business succession facilitators through International Farm Transition Network training, will help facilitate informed decision-making on issues such as retirement plans and inheritance, providing farmers and farm families with the knowledge, skills, and tools they need to do so.Services will include a self-assessment of skills and abilities, review of business resources, discussion of retirement, transfer and estate planning, collection of financial information, review of the financial needs of the primary operator, and review of the financial status and legal documents of the next generation or other identified beginning farmer, including wills and trusts.Project services will produce completed succession plans that may be provided to an attorney to finalize. WFC will encourage farmers and families to complete this final step in the process to legally implement the succession plan.Farmers who want to complete a succession plan but lack the next generation or a successor to assume management of the farm will be provided resources and referral to the UW School for Beginning Dairy Farmers, UW-Madison Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems Beginning Farmer Schools, Farm Beginnings Program, Cooperative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, GrassWorks Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship Program and state technical colleges' Beginning Farmer Training programs, to put them in contact with interested beginning farmers who lack a farm connection. WFC will work with farmers and the newly identified potential successors to personalize a succession plan for each specific situation.For evaluation, ESW, in collaboration with UWEX and WFC, and in consultation with Brian Luck, Ph.D., UWEX Assistant Professor and consultant/overseer for project evaluation activities, will design a participant survey which will measure: satisfaction with project succession planning services, knowledge gained, changes in attitude about succession planning, changes in behavior regarding the farm operation decision-making process with the succeeding generation or beginning farmer who will assume farm management, whether the participant has implemented the plan through an attorney, the number of participants who do not have a beginning farmer identified to whom to transfer the farm operation, and the number of (those) participants who have successfully connected with an interested beginning farmer.

Progress 09/01/15 to 08/31/18

Outputs
Target Audience:Target Audience Audience Emphasis: Farmworkers Limited resource producers Military veterans Small farms Women Participants Served Record the total number of unique participants who participated in your program: Total Number of Participants: 123 Enter the actual cumulative number of participants who as a result of your program: Started farming: Target - 28, Actual - 28 Helped prepare to start farming: Target - 0, Actual - 0 Improved farming success: Target - 29, Actual - 34 Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Delivery Total Meetings: 145 Total Meeting Participants: 34388 Total Webinars: 0 Total Webinar Participants: 0 Total Website Visits: 34209 Total Online Course Participants: 0 Meetings 9/17/2015: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 1500 9/30/2015: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 40 12/2/2015: Belmont, WI -- Number of Attendees 30 12/14/2015: Belmont, WI -- Number of Attendees 30 12/15/2015: Gays Mills, WI -- Number of Attendees 35 12/17/2015: Fond du Lac, WI -- Number of Attendees 50 12/5/2015: Wisconsin Dells, WI -- Number of Attendees 300 12/5/2015: Eau Claire, WI -- Number of Attendees 250 12/3/2015: Appleton, WI -- Number of Attendees 50 2/4/2016: Abbotsford, WI -- Number of Attendees 50 2/9/2016: Menomonie, WI -- Number of Attendees 25 2/12/2016: Beaver Dam, WI -- Number of Attendees 20 2/16/2016: Chippewa Falls, WI -- Number of Attendees 20 2/17/2016: Baldwin, WI -- Number of Attendees 10 2/17/2016: Alma, WI -- Number of Attendees 30 2/18/2016: La Crosse, WI -- Number of Attendees 30 2/18/2016: Richland Center, WI -- Number of Attendees 10 2/24/2016: Prairie du Chien, WI -- Number of Attendees 80 2/26/2016: Calumet, WI -- Number of Attendees 20 3/8/2016: Elkhorn, WI -- Number of Attendees 25 4/13/2016: Stevens Point, WI -- Number of Attendees 50 4/6/2016: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 200 4/26/2016: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 40 5/25/2016: Kewaunee, WI -- Number of Attendees 300 5/27/2016: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 30 6/15/2016: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 2000 6/18/2016: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 15 3/8/2016: Eau Claire, WI -- Number of Attendees 2000 3/17/2016: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 500 3/23/2016: Cashton, WI -- Number of Attendees 75 3/29/2016: Oshkosh, WI -- Number of Attendees 1000 3/2/2016: Stevens Point, WI -- Number of Attendees 60 8/9/2016: West Allis, WI -- Number of Attendees 2000 7/26/2015: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 25 1/13/2016: La Crosse, WI -- Number of Attendees 1500 1/4/2016: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 20 1/13/2016: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 100 1/14/2016: Menomonie, WI -- Number of Attendees 140 1/28/2016: Janesville, WI -- Number of Attendees 150 2/4/2016: Wisconsin Dells, WI -- Number of Attendees 500 2/8/2016: Delavan, WI -- Number of Attendees 35 2/17/2016: Marshfield, WI -- Number of Attendees 1000 2/25/2016: LaCrosse, WI -- Number of Attendees 2500 9/12/2015: Chippewa Falls, WI -- Number of Attendees 1000 10/26/2015: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 30 11/4/2016: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 30 9/23/2015: Green Bay, WI -- Number of Attendees 500 9/30/2015: Stevens Point, WI -- Number of Attendees 15 10/27/2015: Fountain City, WI -- Number of Attendees 8 11/12/2016: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 500 1/28/2016: Wisconsin Dells, WI -- Number of Attendees 1000 7/27/2016: Chilton, WI -- Number of Attendees 10 9/9/2016: Milwaukee, WI -- Number of Attendees 150 9/29/2016: Arlington, WI -- Number of Attendees 46 9/28/2016: Menominee, WI -- Number of Attendees 10 10/4/2016: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 500 10/18/2016: Oshkosh, WI -- Number of Attendees 50 10/24/2016: Tomah, WI -- Number of Attendees 9 10/25/2016: Chippewa, WI -- Number of Attendees 20 10/26/2016: Kimberly, WI -- Number of Attendees 20 10/27/2016: Oconomowoc, WI -- Number of Attendees 14 10/28/2016: Dodgeville, WI -- Number of Attendees 30 10/26/2016: Black River Falls, WI -- Number of Attendees 5 11/2/2016: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 25 11/9/2016: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 37 11/15/2016: Chicago, IL -- Number of Attendees 1000 12/3/2016: Wisconsin Dells, WI -- Number of Attendees 3 1/11/2017: La Crosse, WI -- Number of Attendees 700 1/22/2017: Wisconsin Dells, WI -- Number of Attendees 300 1/12/2017: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 80 1/18/2017: Stevens Point, WI -- Number of Attendees 120 2/7/2017: Stevens Point, WI -- Number of Attendees 300 2/9/2017: Bloomington, MN -- Number of Attendees 200 2/15/2017: Marshfield, WI -- Number of Attendees 700 2/23/2017: La Crosse, WI -- Number of Attendees 1000 2/2/2017: Wisconsin Dells, WI -- Number of Attendees 180 2/20/2017: Monroe, WI -- Number of Attendees 60 3/3/2017: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 300 3/7/2017: Eau Claire, WI -- Number of Attendees 700 3/15/2017: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 400 3/15/2017: Marshfield, WI -- Number of Attendees 70 3/15/2017: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 100 3/28/2017: Oshkosh, WI -- Number of Attendees 900 3/30/2017: Middleton, WI -- Number of Attendees 400 3/9/2017: Arlington, WI -- Number of Attendees 30 3/13/2017: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 50 3/11/2017: Sauk City, WI -- Number of Attendees 1 3/10/2017: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 80 3/22/2017: Knoxville, TN -- Number of Attendees 40 4/19/2017: Bangor, WI -- Number of Attendees 13 5/25/2017: Luxemburg, WI -- Number of Attendees 200 6/14/2017: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 900 7/11/2017: Kewaunee, WI -- Number of Attendees 103 7/26/2017: Milladore, WI -- Number of Attendees 30 8/3/2017: West Allis, WI -- Number of Attendees 1000 8/22/2017: Independence, WI -- Number of Attendees 25 8/17/2017: Janesville, WI -- Number of Attendees 90 9/8/2017: Milwaukee, WI -- Number of Attendees 200 9/29/2017: Deforest, WI -- Number of Attendees 150 10/3/2017: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 200 11/1/2017: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 50 11/7/2017: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 30 11/1/2017: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 40 11/12/2017: Milwaukee, WI -- Number of Attendees 300 11/8/2017: Menominee, WI -- Number of Attendees 75 11/12/2017: Milwaukee, WI -- Number of Attendees 100 11/27/2017: Sun Prairie, WI -- Number of Attendees 30 11/28/2017: Fond du Lac, WI -- Number of Attendees 35 11/29/2017: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 52 11/30/2017: Eau Claire, WI -- Number of Attendees 60 11/30/2017: Sparta, WI -- Number of Attendees 19 12/5/2017: Tomah, WI -- Number of Attendees 40 12/6/2017: Belmont, WI -- Number of Attendees 50 12/14/2017: Fond du Lac, WI -- Number of Attendees 20 12/12/2017: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 20 12/1/2017: Dodgeville, WI -- Number of Attendees 38 12/4/2017: Juneau, WI -- Number of Attendees 44 12/4/2017: Kiel, WI -- Number of Attendees 78 12/5/2017: Shawano, WI -- Number of Attendees 60 12/5/2017: Marshfield, WI -- Number of Attendees 70 1/10/2018: La Crosse, WI -- Number of Attendees 7 1/22/2018: Wisconsin Dells, WI -- Number of Attendees 39 1/24/2018: Fond du Lac, WI -- Number of Attendees 40 1/30/2018: Wisconsin Dells, WI -- Number of Attendees 75 2/15/2018: La Crosse, WI -- Number of Attendees 100 2/21/2018: Marshfield, WI -- Number of Attendees 75 2/22/2018: La Crosse, WI -- Number of Attendees 50 2/2/2018: Cecil, WI -- Number of Attendees 30 2/7/2018: Stevens Point, WI -- Number of Attendees 150 3/6/2018: Eau Claire, WI -- Number of Attendees 29 3/13/2018: Cashton, WI -- Number of Attendees 63 3/19/2018: Portland, ME -- Number of Attendees 68 3/27/2018: Oshkosh, WI -- Number of Attendees 59 3/8/2018: Fond du Lac, WI -- Number of Attendees 40 3/29/2018: Fond du Lac, WI -- Number of Attendees 12 3/28/2018: Warrens, WI -- Number of Attendees 70 3/28/2018: Waupaca, WI -- Number of Attendees 50 5/2/2018: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 30 5/23/2018: Kewaunee, WI -- Number of Attendees 400 6/13/2018: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 150 7/10/2018: Chili, WI -- Number of Attendees 41 8/3/2018: Brodhead, WI -- Number of Attendees 63 8/9/2018: Milwaukee, WI -- Number of Attendees 22 8/29/2018: Colby, WI -- Number of Attendees 20 8/30/2018: Arlington, WI -- Number of Attendees 15 How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Promotional Materials Beginning Farmer Brochure The project created this brochure for distribution at farm shows, presentations, and other outreach events to farmers interested in learning more about succession planning. It will also continue to be provided to organizations that work with our target audience. Succession Planning Process Flowchart The project created a flowchart as a promotional and educational piece to be provided to individuals interested in succession planning, but unsure of the process. This piece breaks down the process into an easy-to-understand format. Fall 2015 Plowing Ahead Newsletter This newsletter of AgrAbility Wisconsin, a partnership of ESW and UWEX, focused on succession planning, and was distributed to current and former AgrAbility of Wisconsin/ESW FARM program clients. Spring 2016 Plowing Ahead Newsletter This issue focused on the Securing Beginning Farmers Through Succession Planning project, and was distributed to current and former AgrAbility of Wisconsin/ESW FARM program clients Beginning Farmer Grant Flyer-Farmer Update Flyer targeting farmers who may be interested in succession planning. Securing Beginning Farmers Through Succession Planning Poster Annual PD Meeting Beginning Farmer Retractable Stand Display Farm Shows/Meetings/Events Fall 2017 Plowing Ahead Newsletter Current and former Wisconsin AgrAbility clients, state organizations, ag businesses Easter Seals Wisconsin Independence Newsletter Winter/Spring 2016 Easter Seals Wisconsin clients, donors, volunteers Easter Seals Wisconsin Independence Newsletter Winter/Spring 2017 Easter Seals Wisconsin clients, donors, volunteers Summer 2017 Plowing Ahead Newsletter Current and former clients/vendors/general public Spring 2018 Plowing Ahead Newsletter Current and former Wisconsin AgrAbility clients, state organizations, ag businesses Fall 2018 Plowing Ahead Newsletter Current and former Wisconsin AgrAbility clients, state organizations, ag businesses What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Steps taken to help participants Identify former ESW FARM program clients from the client database and randomly select ten former clients each month to send a letter identifying the available succession planning project.FARM Specialists follow-up with a call two-weeks later to determine if the individual has a succession plan in place or is interested in pursuing the development of a succession plan.Refer individuals to Wisconsin Farm Center (WFC). Identify new FARM program clients who have no succession plan and are interested in pursuing a succession plan for their farm operation.Refer individuals to WFC. Provide outreach via conferences, meetings, farm shows, media, print, and other outlets about the project to farmers potentially interested in engaging in the process or to organizations and individuals that have direct contact with farmers. Identify referred individuals who have contacted WFC.Those individuals who have not yet contacted WFC, but expressed interest in succession planning, receive follow-up contact from FARM Specialists to determine if they are still interested in succession planning, have further questions, or would like to schedule a meeting via phone or in person with WFC Facilitators and FARM Specialists. Once engaged with WFC, project participants work with WFC for several months developing a successful succession plan for their farm.If no successor is identified, WFC provides information about other organizations working with beginning farmers in search of a farm.Once the process is completed, farmers are encouraged to provide the succession plan to an attorney for finalization. WFC, working with FARM, sends a survey to all farmers completing the succession planning process via an electronic survey or a paper survey depending upon availability of e-mail addresses.A follow-up survey is sent up to three times over a six week period to capture the highest potential response rate from participants.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Result 1. A minimum of 120 farmers will receive succession planning services by the project end date. Producer action: Develop, Topic: Business and strategic planning When measured: August 31 of each of the three years during the 2015-2018 grant. Estimated Number: 120, Actual Number: 123 How verified: The project will track the number of farmers that are referred to the Wisconsin Farm Center and receives succession planning services. Result 2. A minimum of 57 farmers who received succession planning services will complete succession plans for their farm business operations, including identifying a successor, and will be encouraged to provide their completed plans to an attorney for implementation. Producer action: Decide, Topic: Business and strategic planning When measured: At the end of the three year grant period, August 31, 2018 Estimated Number: 57, Actual Number: 62 How verified: Using outcome-based data, an evaluation will be provided to each individual completing a succession plan collecting data that includes questions regarding the finalizing of the plan by meeting with a lawyer.

Publications

Progress 09/01/16 to 08/31/17

Outputs
Target Audience:Audience Emphasis: Farmworkers Limited resource producers Military veterans Small farms Women Participants Served Record the total number of unique participants who participated in your program: Total Number of Participants: 83 Enter the actual cumulative number of participants who as a result of your program: Started farming: Target - 28, Actual - 15 Helped prepare to start farming: Target - 0, Actual - 0 Improved farming success: Target - 29, Actual - 20 Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Delivery Total Meetings: 97 Total Meeting Participants: 30929 Total Webinars: 0 Total Webinar Participants: 0 Total Website Visits: 21820 Total Online Course Participants: 0 Meetings 9/17/2015: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 1500 9/30/2015: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 40 12/2/2015: Belmont, WI -- Number of Attendees 30 12/14/2015: Belmont, WI -- Number of Attendees 30 12/15/2015: Gays Mills, WI -- Number of Attendees 35 12/17/2015: Fond du Lac, WI -- Number of Attendees 50 12/5/2015: Wisconsin Dells, WI -- Number of Attendees 300 12/5/2015: Eau Claire, WI -- Number of Attendees 250 12/3/2015: Appleton, WI -- Number of Attendees 50 2/4/2016: Abbotsford, WI -- Number of Attendees 50 2/9/2016: Menomonie, WI -- Number of Attendees 25 2/12/2016: Beaver Dam, WI -- Number of Attendees 20 2/16/2016: Chippewa Falls, WI -- Number of Attendees 20 2/17/2016: Baldwin, WI -- Number of Attendees 10 2/17/2016: Alma, WI -- Number of Attendees 30 2/18/2016: La Crosse, WI -- Number of Attendees 30 2/18/2016: Richland Center, WI -- Number of Attendees 10 2/24/2016: Prairie du Chien, WI -- Number of Attendees 80 2/26/2016: Calumet, WI -- Number of Attendees 20 3/8/2016: Elkhorn, WI -- Number of Attendees 25 4/13/2016: Stevens Point, WI -- Number of Attendees 50 4/6/2016: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 200 4/26/2016: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 40 5/25/2016: Kewaunee, WI -- Number of Attendees 300 5/27/2016: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 30 6/15/2016: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 2000 6/18/2016: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 15 3/8/2016: Eau Claire, WI -- Number of Attendees 2000 3/17/2016: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 500 3/23/2016: Cashton, WI -- Number of Attendees 75 3/29/2016: Oshkosh, WI -- Number of Attendees 1000 3/2/2016: Stevens Point, WI -- Number of Attendees 60 8/9/2016: West Allis, WI -- Number of Attendees 2000 7/26/2015: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 25 1/13/2016: La Crosse, WI -- Number of Attendees 1500 1/4/2016: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 20 1/13/2016: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 100 1/14/2016: Menomonie, WI -- Number of Attendees 140 1/28/2016: Janesville, WI -- Number of Attendees 150 2/4/2016: Wisconsin Dells, WI -- Number of Attendees 500 2/8/2016: Delavan, WI -- Number of Attendees 35 2/17/2016: Marshfield, WI -- Number of Attendees 1000 2/25/2016: LaCrosse, WI -- Number of Attendees 2500 9/12/2015: Chippewa Falls, WI -- Number of Attendees 1000 10/26/2015: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 30 11/4/2016: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 30 9/23/2015: Green Bay, WI -- Number of Attendees 500 9/30/2015: Stevens Point, WI -- Number of Attendees 15 10/27/2015: Fountain City, WI -- Number of Attendees 8 11/12/2016: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 500 1/28/2016: Wisconsin Dells, WI -- Number of Attendees 1000 7/27/2016: Chilton, WI -- Number of Attendees 10 9/9/2016: Milwaukee, WI -- Number of Attendees 150 9/29/2016: Arlington, WI -- Number of Attendees 46 9/28/2016: Menominee, WI -- Number of Attendees 10 10/4/2016: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 500 10/18/2016: Oshkosh, WI -- Number of Attendees 50 10/24/2016: Tomah, WI -- Number of Attendees 9 10/25/2016: Chippewa, WI -- Number of Attendees 20 10/26/2016: Kimberly, WI -- Number of Attendees 20 10/27/2016: Oconomowoc, WI -- Number of Attendees 14 10/28/2016: Dodgeville, WI -- Number of Attendees 30 10/26/2016: Black River Falls, WI -- Number of Attendees 5 11/2/2016: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 25 11/9/2016: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 37 11/15/2016: Chicago, IL -- Number of Attendees 1000 12/3/2016: Wisconsin Dells, WI -- Number of Attendees 3 1/11/2017: La Crosse, WI -- Number of Attendees 700 1/22/2017: Wisconsin Dells, WI -- Number of Attendees 300 1/12/2017: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 80 1/18/2017: Stevens Point, WI -- Number of Attendees 120 2/7/2017: Stevens Point, WI -- Number of Attendees 300 2/9/2017: Bloomington, MN -- Number of Attendees 200 2/15/2017: Marshfield, WI -- Number of Attendees 700 2/23/2017: La Crosse, WI -- Number of Attendees 1000 2/2/2017: Wisconsin Dells, WI -- Number of Attendees 180 2/20/2017: Monroe, WI -- Number of Attendees 60 3/3/2017: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 300 3/7/2017: Eau Claire, WI -- Number of Attendees 700 3/15/2017: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 400 3/15/2017: Marshfield, WI -- Number of Attendees 70 3/15/2017: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 100 3/28/2017: Oshkosh, WI -- Number of Attendees 900 3/30/2017: Middleton, WI -- Number of Attendees 400 3/9/2017: Arlington, WI -- Number of Attendees 30 3/13/2017: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 50 3/11/2017: Sauk City, WI -- Number of Attendees 1 3/10/2017: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 80 3/22/2017: Knoxville, TN -- Number of Attendees 40 4/19/2017: Bangor, WI -- Number of Attendees 13 5/25/2017: Luxemburg, WI -- Number of Attendees 200 6/14/2017: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 900 7/11/2017: Kewaunee, WI -- Number of Attendees 103 7/26/2017: Milladore, WI -- Number of Attendees 30 8/3/2017: West Allis, WI -- Number of Attendees 1000 8/22/2017: Independence, WI -- Number of Attendees 25 8/17/2017: Janesville, WI -- Number of Attendees 90 How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Promotional Materials Beginning Farmer Brochure The project created this brochure for distribution at farm shows, presentations, and other outreach events to farmers interested in learning more about succession planning. It will also continue to be provided to organizations that work with our target audience. Succession Planning Process Flowchart The project created a flowchart as a promotional and educational piece to be provided to individuals interested in succession planning, but unsure of the process. This piece breaks down the process into an easy-to-understand format. Fall 2015 Plowing Ahead Newsletter This newsletter of AgrAbility Wisconsin, a partnership of ESW and UWEX, focused on succession planning, and was distributed to current and former AgrAbility of Wisconsin/ESW FARM program clients. Spring 2016 Plowing Ahead Newsletter This issue focused on the Securing Beginning Farmers Through Succession Planning project, and was distributed to current and former AgrAbility of Wisconsin/ESW FARM program clients Beginning Farmer Grant Flyer-Farmer Update Flyer targeting farmers who may be interested in succession planning. Securing Beginning Farmers Through Succession Planning Poster Annual PD Meeting Beginning Farmer Retractable Stand Display Farm Shows/Meetings/Events Fall 2017 Plowing Ahead Newsletter Current and former Wisconsin AgrAbility clients, state organizations, ag businesses Easter Seals Wisconsin Independence Newsletter Winter/Spring 2016 Easter Seals Wisconsin clients, donors, volunteers Easter Seals Wisconsin Independence Newsletter Winter/Spring 2017 Easter Seals Wisconsin clients, donors, volunteers Summer 2017 Plowing Ahead Newsletter Current and former clients/vendors/general public What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Steps Steps taken to help participants Identify former ESW FARM program clients from the client database and randomly select ten former clients each month to send a letter identifying the available succession planning project.FARM Specialists follow-up with a call two-weeks later to determine if the individual has a succession plan in place or is interested in pursuing the development of a succession plan.Refer individuals to Wisconsin Farm Center (WFC). Identify new FARM program clients who have no succession plan and are interested in pursuing a succession plan for their farm operation.Refer individuals to WFC. Provide outreach via conferences, meetings, farm shows, media, print, and other outlets about the project to farmers potentially interested in engaging in the process or to organizations and individuals that have direct contact with farmers. Identify referred individuals who have contacted WFC.Those individuals who have not yet contacted WFC, but expressed interest in succession planning, receive follow-up contact from FARM Specialists to determine if they are still interested in succession planning, have further questions, or would like to schedule a meeting via phone or in person with WFC Facilitators and FARM Specialists. Once engaged with WFC, project participants work with WFC for several months developing a successful succession plan for their farm.If no successor is identified, WFC provides information about other organizations working with beginning farmers in search of a farm.Once the process is completed, farmers are encouraged to provide the succession plan to an attorney for finalization. WFC, working with FARM, sends a survey to all farmers completing the succession planning process via an electronic survey or a paper survey depending upon availability of e-mail addresses.A follow-up survey is sent up to three times over a six week period to capture the highest potential response rate from participants.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Result 1. A minimum of 120 farmers will receive succession planning services by the project end date. Producer action: Develop, Topic: Business and strategic planning When measured: August 31 of each of the three years during the 2015-2018 grant. Estimated Number: 120, Actual Number: 83 How verified: The project will track the number of farmers that are referred to the Wisconsin Farm Center and receives succession planning services. Result 2. A minimum of 57 farmers who received succession planning services will complete succession plans for their farm business operations, including identifying a successor, and will be encouraged to provide their completed plans to an attorney for implementation. Producer action: Decide, Topic: Business and strategic planning When measured: At the end of the three year grant period, August 31, 2018 Estimated Number: 57, Actual Number: 35 How verified: Using outcome-based data, an evaluation will be provided to each individual completing a succession plan collecting data that includes questions regarding the finalizing of the plan by meeting with a lawyer.

Publications

Progress 09/01/15 to 08/31/16

Outputs
Target Audience: Audience Emphasis Small farms Farmworkers Military veterans Women Limited resource producers Participants Served Record the total number of unique participants who participated in your program: Total Number of Participants: 43 Enter the actual cumulative number of participants who as a result of your program: Started farming: Target - 28, Actual - 0 Helped prepare to start farming: Target - 0, Actual - 0 Improved farming success: Target - 29, Actual - 19 Changes/Problems:A challenge that the project partners discovered six months into the first year was the lack of follow through by individuals referred by ESW to WFC.WFC and ESW discussed ways to increase the number of farmers who would follow through with the succession planning process, in a manner that would work for everyone.ESW continued to regularly follow-up with referred individuals including phone calls, emails and farm visits. Farmers who expressed interest in transition planning but needed extra assistance in taking the next step were offered the opportunity to participate in a meeting between the individual, an ESW FARM Specialist, and a WFC Facilitator via phone or in-person. The partners found an increased level of engagement in succession planning by farmers who were able to participate in such a meeting. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Delivery Total Meetings: 52 Total Meeting Participants: 19,938 Total Webinars: 0 Total Webinar Participants: 0 Total Website Visits: 5453 Total Online Course Participants: 0 Meetings 9/17/2015: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 1500 9/30/2015: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 40 12/2/2015: Belmont, WI -- Number of Attendees 30 12/14/2015: Belmont, WI -- Number of Attendees 30 12/15/2015: Gays Mills, WI -- Number of Attendees 35 12/17/2015: Fond du Lac, WI -- Number of Attendees 50 12/5/2015: Wisconsin Dells, WI -- Number of Attendees 300 12/5/2015: Eau Claire, WI -- Number of Attendees 250 12/3/2015: Appleton, WI -- Number of Attendees 50 2/4/2016: Abbotsford, WI -- Number of Attendees 50 2/9/2016: Menomonie, WI -- Number of Attendees 25 2/12/2016: Beaver Dam, WI -- Number of Attendees 20 2/16/2016: Chippewa Falls, WI -- Number of Attendees 20 2/17/2016: Baldwin, WI -- Number of Attendees 10 2/17/2016: Alma, WI -- Number of Attendees 30 2/18/2016: La Crosse, WI -- Number of Attendees 30 2/18/2016: Richland Center, WI -- Number of Attendees 10 2/24/2016: Prairie du Chien, WI -- Number of Attendees 80 2/26/2016: Calumet, WI -- Number of Attendees 20 3/8/2016: Elkhorn, WI -- Number of Attendees 25 4/13/2016: Stevens Point, WI -- Number of Attendees 50 4/6/2016: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 200 4/26/2016: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 40 5/25/2016: Kewaunee, WI -- Number of Attendees 300 5/27/2016: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 30 6/15/2016: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 2000 6/18/2016: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 15 3/8/2016: Eau Claire, WI -- Number of Attendees 2000 3/17/2016: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 500 3/23/2016: Cashton, WI -- Number of Attendees 75 3/29/2016: Oshkosh, WI -- Number of Attendees 1000 3/2/2016: Stevens Point, WI -- Number of Attendees 60 8/9/2016: West Allis, WI -- Number of Attendees 2000 7/26/2015: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 25 1/13/2016: La Crosse, WI -- Number of Attendees 1500 1/4/2016: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 20 1/13/2016: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 100 1/14/2016: Menomonie, WI -- Number of Attendees 140 1/28/2016: Janesville, WI -- Number of Attendees 150 2/4/2016: Wisconsin Dells, WI -- Number of Attendees 500 2/8/2016: Delavan, WI -- Number of Attendees 35 2/17/2016: Marshfield, WI -- Number of Attendees 1000 2/25/2016: LaCrosse, WI -- Number of Attendees 2500 9/12/2015: Chippewa Falls, WI -- Number of Attendees 1000 10/26/2015: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 30 11/4/2016: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 30 9/23/2015: Green Bay, WI -- Number of Attendees 500 9/30/2015: Stevens Point, WI -- Number of Attendees 15 10/27/2015: Fountain City, WI -- Number of Attendees 8 11/12/2016: Madison, WI -- Number of Attendees 500 1/28/2016: Wisconsin Dells, WI -- Number of Attendees 1000 7/27/2016: Chilton, WI -- Number of Attendees 10 How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Promotional Materials Beginning Farmer Brochure The project created this brochure for distribution at farm shows, presentations, and other outreach events to farmers interested in learning more about succession planning. It will also continue to be provided to organizations that work with our target audience. Succession Planning Process Flowchart The project created a flowchart as a promotional and educational piece to be provided to individuals interested in succession planning, but unsure of the process. This piece breaks down the process into an easy-to-understand format. Fall 2015 Plowing Ahead Newsletter This newsletter of AgrAbility Wisconsin, a partnership of ESW and UWEX, focused on succession planning, and was distributed to current and former AgrAbility of Wisconsin/ESW FARM program clients. Spring 2016 Plowing Ahead Newsletter This issue focused on the Securing Beginning Farmers Through Succession Planning project, and was distributed to current and former AgrAbility of Wisconsin/ESW FARM program clients What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Steps Steps taken to help participants Identify former ESW FARM program clients from the client database and randomly select ten former clients each month to send a letter identifying the available succession planning project.FARM Specialists follow-up with a call two-weeks later to determine if the individual has a succession plan in place or is interested in pursuing the development of a succession plan.Refer individuals to Wisconsin Farm Center (WFC). Identify new FARM program clients who have no succession plan and are interested in pursuing a succession plan for their farm operation.Refer individuals to WFC. Provide outreach via conferences, meetings, farm shows, media, print, and other outlets about the project to farmers potentially interested in engaging in the process or to organizations and individuals that have direct contact with farmers. Identify referred individuals who have contacted WFC.Those individuals who have not yet contacted WFC, but expressed interest in succession planning, receive follow-up contact from FARM Specialists to determine if they are still interested in succession planning, have further questions, or would like to schedule a meeting via phone or in person with WFC Facilitators and FARM Specialists. Once engaged with WFC, project participants work with WFC for several months developing a successful succession plan for their farm.If no successor is identified, WFC provides information about other organizations working with beginning farmers in search of a farm.Once the process is completed, farmers are encouraged to provide the succession plan to an attorney for finalization. WFC, working with FARM, sends a survey to all farmers completing the succession planning process via an electronic survey or a paper survey depending upon availability of e-mail addresses.A follow-up survey is sent up to three times over a six week period to capture the highest potential response rate from participants.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Results: What Producers Learned, Achieved, Applied Result 1. A minimum of 120 farmers will receive succession planning services by the project end date. Producer action: Develop, Topic: Business and strategic planning When measured: August 31 of each of the three years during the 2015-2018 grant. Estimated Number: 120, Actual Number: 43 How verified: The project will track the number of farmers that are referred to the Wisconsin Farm Center and receives succession planning services. Result 2. A minimum of 57 farmers who received succession planning services will complete succession plans for their farm business operations, including identifying a successor, and will be encouraged to provide their completed plans to an attorney for implementation. Producer action: Decide, Topic: Business and strategic planning When measured: At the end of the three year grant period, August 31, 2018 Estimated Number: 57, Actual Number: 19 How verified: Using outcome-based data, an evaluation will be provided to each individual completing a succession plan collecting data that includes questions regarding the finalizing of the plan by meeting with a lawyer.

Publications