On December 8^th, 2023, Kendal Bowman, Owen County Ag Agent, partnered with Irma Johnson Kentucky State University, hosted Navigating Kentucky's Heirs Property Training On A Regional Level, Train the Trainer event held in Breathitt County Kentucky. As we explored avenues to enable the next generation to engage in agriculture, I became aware of heirs' property, particularly in light of the fact that the average age of a farmer is 57.5 years old (Halvorson, 2023). Heirs' property refers to a form of land ownership that arises when a property owner dies without a will or with a will or succession plan that doesn't specify how to divide the land. This land then gets passed down informally through generations. As a result, the property ends up being owned by numerous family members. Each family member holds an undivided interest in the entire property, rather than a specific part of it. This means no single heir has a unique claim to any portion of the land and all decisions about the property must be agreed upon by all owners, a scenario that can be complex. If a 57.5 year old passed away, he/she could have 15 protentional heirs to their property. As time goes on, heirs may move to different places and no longer have strong connections to the land. The lack of connection to the land may leave the land vulnerable as remote heirs may be more willing to sell their share to someone outside the family (Bowman & Johnson).

In Kentucky, the prevalence of heirs' property is notable, especially within rural areas and African American communities (Turner, 2023). These properties are not just parcels of land; they represent a legacy, a source of familial wealth, and a connection to history. Understanding and addressing the challenges posed by heirs' property in Kentucky is crucial, as it impacts the economic stability, legal rights, and cultural heritage of the families involved. The state's unique legal landscape adds layers of complexity to these issues, making it an important area for detailed analysis and thoughtful solutions (Bowman & Howard).

The concept of heirs' property, particularly prevalent in African American communities, has deep historical roots that intertwine with the legacy of systemic racism and limited access to legal resources. This form of land ownership commonly originated during the Reconstruction Era following the Civil War. Freed African American slaves, who had been denied the right to own property for centuries, began acquiring land (Packman, 2020). However, due to systemic barriers, including widespread illiteracy and discrimination by legal institutions, many did not formalize their ownership through wills or estate planning (Pager & Shepherd, 2008).

Over time, this land was passed down through generations without proper legal documentation, leading to the current phenomenon of heirs' property (Bowman & Childers). The lack of legal clarity in ownership was often exploited, resulting in land loss through forced sales and other legal maneuvers. This issue was compounded by the Jim Crow laws and other discriminatory practices that further limited African Americans' access to legal assistance and resources necessary to protect their property rights (Kavak & Parks, 2023).

The social impact of heirs' property is profound, particularly in terms of land loss and economic stability. For many African American families in Kentucky and other southern states, land ownership represented economic independence, a sense of identity, and a connection to heritage. However, the ambiguous nature of heirs' property ownership has led to significant land loss among these communities.

The repercussions extend beyond individual families to the wider community. The instability of land ownership due to heirs' property contributes to ongoing cycles of poverty and disenfranchisement in predominantly African American communities. As land is lost or its value diminished due to legal complexities, communities lose a vital source of economic stability and potential growth (Bowman & Childers). Furthermore, this form of land ownership complicates community development efforts and hinders investment in infrastructure and services (Bowman & Childers).

At the Breathitt County Heirs’ Property program,there was a combination of pre- and post-surveys conducted via Qualtrics. These surveys were developed and approved by experts from the University of Kentucky and were accessible through QR codes and web links. The assessment focused on participants' familiarity with and understanding of heirs' property, measuring changes in confidence and knowledge before and after the training. Data analysis included statistical measures like mean scores and standard deviation, alongside qualitative feedback from open-ended questions. The surveys also gathered demographic information and feedback on the program's effectiveness.

This training location is in the highest heirs’ property area in the nation (Turner 2023). Enrollment was open to all Kentucky Extension Agents and the public. There was a total of 21 participants, but we only had 10 surveys of usable data. There were three others, but after discussion with Chad Jennings, University of Kentucky’s Extension Information Technology Trainer, we concluded these were surveys started but not finished due to technical issues.

This comprehensive assessment approach below demonstrates a commitment to not only educating participants but also continuously improving the program based on solid, data-driven insights. The utilization of digital tools like Qualtrics and the incorporation of both quantitative and qualitative methods reflects a modern and thorough approach to program assessment and improvement.

Details of process used

1. Development of Assessment Tools:

• Collaboration with Experts: The development involved experts from the University of Kentucky, ensuring the tools were robust and relevant. Kendal Bowman, University of Kentucky’s Owen County Extension Agent for Agriculture & Natural Resources, created and developed the pre and the post survey offered. Dr. Kenn Jones, University of Kentucky’s Extension Director of Program and Staff Development, beta tested and approved the survey before it was published for the December 8th training session.
• Design of Surveys: Two types of surveys were created – pre-training and post-training. These surveys were designed to assess changes in knowledge and confidence regarding heirs' property.

2. Distribution and Accessibility:

• Qualtrics Platform: Utilization of Qualtrics, an online survey platform, allowed for efficient distribution and collection of responses.
• QR Codes and Web Links: These were used for easy access, making the surveys readily available to participants with different levels of tech-savviness.

3. Content of Surveys:

• Demographic Information: Collecting demographic data helped in understanding the background of participants and in tailoring future programs.
• Knowledge Assessment: Questions designed to evaluate the participants' understanding of heirs' property both before and after the training.
• Confidence Levels: Assessment of how confident participants felt about their knowledge and ability to handle related situations.

4. Pre-Training Assessment:

• Baseline Measurement: The pre-training survey established a baseline for participants' knowledge and confidence levels.
• Identification of Learning Needs: This initial assessment helped in identifying specific areas where participants needed more guidance.

5. Post-Training Assessment:

• Measuring Impact: The post-training survey was crucial in determining the effectiveness of the training.
• Comparison with Baseline: By comparing pre- and post-training responses, the improvement in knowledge and confidence could be quantitatively assessed.

6. Data Analysis:

• Statistical Measures: Analysis included mean scores, standard deviation, and other statistical tools to quantitatively evaluate the data.
• Qualitative Feedback: Open-ended questions provided qualitative insights into the participants' experiences and the program's impact.

7. Feedback on Program Effectiveness:

• Participant Feedback: Gathering opinions on the training's relevance, presentation, and overall effectiveness.
• Suggestions for Improvement: Participants’ suggestions were crucial for refining future iterations of the program.

8. Reporting and Utilization of Results:

• Data-Driven Improvements: The results of the assessments were used to make informed decisions about future training programs.
• Sharing with Stakeholders: Results were likely shared with program funders, participants, and other stakeholders to demonstrate the program's impact.

9. Ethical Considerations and Confidentiality:

• Consent and Anonymity: Verbally ensuring participants consented to the use of their data and the anonymity in their reporting.

10. Challenges and Limitations:

• Potential Biases: Recognizing and accounting for any biases in the survey design or participant responses.
• Response Rate Issues: Dealing with the challenges of achieving a high response rate and representative sample.

The data proves Navigating Kentucky's Heirs Property Training On A Regional Level, Train the Trainer was a success! Before the workshop we asked the participants “how familiar were you with the term heirs’ property?”. The average response was “somewhat familiar”. After the workshop we surveyed them again and 60% reported feeling “very familiar” with the term heirs’ property.

1. Results from the pre- and post-surveys indicated a stable or positive change in the responses to the questions. The charts below summarize the results from the before and after summaries followed by written explanations of the analysis.  The mean scores for the responses given in the pre- and post-surveys demonstrated an improvement in participants confidence and understanding regarding heirs’ property issues. 

Note, Sale ranged from 1-5 

1. The data below shows that there was good representation along genders with half of the respondents being male and the other half female.

1. Even though participation was open to all, we lacked diversity. 100% of the participants identified as white, non-hispanic.

1. 60% of the surveyed participants reported having personal or family experiences related to heirs’ property.

1. I feel questions 11 and 9 on the pre-survey go hand in hand. 80% reported being uncomfortable in discussing heirs’ property issues with a client which complemented the data from question 9 showing 70% have never offered estate/heir’s property programs.

1. On the pre-survey we asked the following:

1. On the pre survey we asked, “How did you hear about this program?”. We did this so we could measure our outreach. Analyzing the results, it was interesting to see that each method had about the same effect.  Taking a “shot gun” marketing approach proved to be effective and will probably be replicated in future workshops.

1. We had positive results with 100% reporting that their knowledge of laws and policies enhanced after attending this workshop.

1. On the post-survey we asked,” After this workshop, to what extent do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements”. They were given the following options to choose from: Strongly disagree, Somewhat disagree, Neither agree or disagree, Somewhat agree, Strongly agree.

1. The final items of the post-survey were not included in the pre-survey and asked questions to gather more information.

References: 

Bowman, K., & Childers , J. (2023, December 25). Heirs Property Resolution . personal. 

Bowman, K., & Howard, D. (2023, November 1). Heirs Property Prevention. personal. 

Bowman, K., & Johnson, I. (2023, October 23). Understanding Heirs’ Property at the Community Level. personal. 

Department of Forestry . (C. J. Gaither , A. Carpenter, T. Ll. McCurty, & S. Toering , Eds.), SRS-244 Heirs’ property and land fractionation: Fostering stable ownership to prevent land loss and abandonment (2019). Forestry Service Technical Report.

            Gaither, C. J. (n.d.). Heirs’ property and Land Fractionation - US Forest Service Research ... Appalachia’s “Big White Ghettos”: Exploring the Role of Heirs’ Property in the Reproduction of Housing Vulnerability in Eastern Kentucky. https://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/gtr/gtr_srs244.pdf 

Halvorson, J. (2023, February 22). 2022 census of agriculture impacts the next generations of farmers. USDA. https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2023/02/22/2022-census-agriculture-impacts-next-generations-farmers 

Heirs’ property landowners. Farmers.gov. (2023, October 23). https://www.farmers.gov/working-with-us/heirs-property-eligibility#:~:text=Heirs’%20property%20is%20family%20owned,the%20estate%20issues%20remain%20unresolved. 

Jones, M., Koebel, T., McCoy, A., Shanholtz, S., & Moeller, J. (2016, September). Mobile and Manufactured Homes In Central Appalachia and Alabama. Virginia Center for Housing Research (VCHR). https://prosperitynow.org/files/resources/VCHR_Study_Final.pdf 

Miller, F. (2022, November). Heirs’ property: Understanding the legal issues in Kentucky. Farm Land Access. https://farmlandaccess.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/heirs-property-legal-issues-kentucky.pdf 

Packman, H. (2020, June 19). Juneteenth and the Broken Promise of “40 Acres and a Mule.” National Farmers Union . November 28, 2023, https://nfu.org/2020/06/19/juneteenth-and-the-broken-promise-of-40-acres-and-a-mule/#:~:text=Just%20four%20days%20later%2C%20on,of%204%20million%20freed%20slaves. 

Pager, D., & Shepherd, H. (2008). The Sociology of Discrimination: Racial Discrimination in Employment, Housing, Credit, and Consumer Markets. ms, Annual review of sociology. Retrieved November 28, 2023, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2915460/. 

Parks, C. (2023, October 19). The Black Codes and Jim Crow laws. Education. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/black-codes-and-jim-crow-laws/ 

Reznickova, A. (2023). Lost Inheritance: Black Farmers Face an Uncertain Future without Heirs' Property Reform. Cambridge, MA: Union of Concerned Scientists. https://doi.org/10.47923/2023.15127

Stein, S., & Carpenter, A. (2022). 2022 AEA/ASSA Annual Meeting. In HEIRS’ PROPERTY IN AN URBAN CONTEXT. Retrieved November 7, 2023, from https://www.aeaweb.org/conference/2022/preliminary/paper/39rFzdTk. 

Taylor , B., Gaither, C. J., White, M., Perry, S. L., Hiten, V., & Dobbs, R. (n.d.). Examining the Efficacy of the Uniform Partition of Heirs’ Property Act in Georgia, Alabama, and Kentucky: A Proof of Concept Investigation. ms, Georgia. Retrieved from https://likenknowledge.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/FINAL-REPORT.pdf. 

Thomson, R., & Bailey, C. (2023). Journal of Rural Social Sciences. ms, Southern Rural Development Center. Retrieved November 7, 2023, from https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/srdctopics-heirsproperty/2/. 

Turner, R. (2023, February). Understanding Heirs’ Property at the Community Level . Train-the-Trainer Workshop. Washington DC.