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.”