Success StorySecuring the Future of Your Farm
Securing the Future of Your Farm
Author: Megan Wetenkamp
Planning Unit: Henry County CES
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
Plan of Work: Financial Stability in Henry
Outcome: Intermediate Outcome
According to the 2000 and 2022 US Agriculture Census, Kentucky has lost 1.4 million acres of farmland and 17,000 farms in 20 years. From 2017-2022 Kentucky lost 4% of farms. In that same time between 2017-2022, Henry County farm numbers decreased by 6.7% (KY by the Numbers).
Partnering with the Trimble County ANR Agent a seven-part series on farm estate planning was designed. Each session covered a different topic. The first session was the best attended with 68 producers. The first session included 3 speakers: Bobby Foree, Local Attorney, Aleta Botts, Director of Kentucky Farm Bureau Farmland Transition Initiative, and Henry County ANR Agent, Megan Wetenkamp. The ANR Agent led a discussion between the two guest speakers, asking questions gathered from a pre-survey. The topics for the subsequent sessions included Wills, Power of Attorney, Transition of Farm and Family Property, Taxes, Capital Gains, Farm Leasing, Funeral Planning, Life Insurance, Long Term Care, LLCs, and Trusts. The Henry ANR Agent secured a grant of $2,300 to help offset the costs of materials and dinner for each session. Attendees also paid $20.00 for all seven sessions.
Attendance fluctuated throughout the program ranging from 68-48 people depending on weather and topic. Several producers commented that the sessions were very helpful. One attendee scheduled a session with an attorney the following day saying, “this class has finally pushed us to get a plan together.”
Stories by Megan Wetenkamp
Henry County Young Farmers
The average Henry County farmer is 57 years old. The Henry County Young Farmers is a group started b... Read More
Summer Annual Forages Field Day
Forages make up 70% of the cropland in Henry County. Many farmers are unable to raise row crops on t... Read More
Stories by Henry County CES
Curing Country Hams
The 4-H Country Ham project has become a staple of the Henry County 4-H program. The project has bee... Read More
Teen Conference
Teen Conference 2025Success StoryThe 2025 Kentucky 4-H Teen Conference was held at the University of... Read More
Stories by Farm Management, Economics and Policy

Harvesting your Timber & Ag Water Quality Plan Workshops Assist Landowners
Although Campbell County is known for its rolling hills, horticulture, forage and livestock producti... Read More

Land Value and Cash Rent Survey 2025
In Kentucky, agricultural landowners, farmers, Extension Agents for Agriculture and Natural Resource... Read More
© 2024 University of Kentucky, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment