Farm Foward: Succession Planning and Next Gen Farmers

Recorded live from the Southern Family Farmers and Food Systems Conference at Texas State University, the Soil Sisters interview Jessi Roesch, founder and CEO of Downland. The discussion focuses on the importance of farm succession planning and the challenges faced by both retiring and aspiring young farmers. Jessi explains Downland's mission to facilitate the smooth transition of farmland ownership through a three-part solution: preparing successors, finding suitable matches, and ensuring legally sound transactions. They delve into the human and emotional aspects of succession planning, emphasizing the need for values alignment, comprehensive financial planning, and innovative tools to ease the process. 

Jessi Roesch, founder and CEO of Downland, helps farmers and landowners pass down their land to the next generation. Building the financial, legal and workforce infrastructure to support families across the great wealth transfer as $24 trillion in farmland assets and $225 billion of our food production is in transition.

FB: @downland  |  IG: @go.downland  |  Website: GoDownland.com - From the website, aspiring young farmers can join the Downland waitlist. And retiring farmers can call or text to start their succession planning conversation.

Time Stamps:

00:00 Welcome to the Soil Sisters Podcast

00:31 Introducing Jessi Roesch, founder & CEO of Downland

01:00 Challenges in Succession Planning

02:15 The Importance of Values in Farming

04:03 Navigating Difficult Conversations

13:25 Financial and Legal Pitfalls

19:24 Leveraging Technology for Better Planning

21:58 The Value of Community in Farming

22:34 Creating Tools for Farmers

22:57 Affirmation and Support for Farmers

23:32 Regenerative Farming and Living

24:29 Downland's Role in Succession Planning

25:02 Steps for Young Farmers to Get Started

26:04 Connecting Farmers

26:38 Building Legal and Financial Tools for Farmers

29:42 Supporting Aspiring Farmers

37:42 Creative Financial Solutions for Land Transition

42:24 Downland's Vision and Future Plans

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