A new workshop series from UW-Madison Division of Extension can help farms organize their important documents and financial information to ensure the continuity and stability of the business in the face of emergencies. Having these documents in order can also help farm owners be better prepared for their estate planning meetings with service providers.

This is one of those tasks that every farm owner knows they should do; and it is easy to put off. It’s tedious and can be overwhelming.

The series will help farm families to organize and analyze important documents and asset information to organize their estate and legacy plan over a series of weeks. In the event of an untimely death or accident, a farm family will be able to return to their Shoebox to Strategy binder and spreadsheet and find important information for continuing the farm’s legacy. Participants will be guided through a series of questions, conversations, and templates to analyze their ideal farm transition plan. After organizing farm assets for their Shoebox to Strategy binder, participants will be able to run a variety of transfer scenarios to analyze and compare possible distribution plans for farm transition.

The organization of this information and analysis of possible distribution plans will prepare farm families to meet with farm transition planning professionals who can advise on legal and tax strategies to accomplish the farm’s specified transition goals. By organizing personal and financial information before consulting service professionals, farm families may be able to significantly reduce the time and costs associated with estate planning conversations.

Participants will learn from UW-Madison Extension Farm Management Specialists Kevin Bernhardt, Joy Kirkpatrick, and Kelly Wilfert. They will offer guidance through emails and three virtual sessions before meeting with participants in person in March.

Schedule for the 2026 Shoebox to Strategy series:

• Friday, January 30 from 12-1:30 pm – Session 1 (virtual)
• Friday, February 13 from 12-1:30 pm – Session 2 (virtual)
• Friday, February 27 from 12-1:30 pm – Session 3 (virtual)
• Friday, March 13 , from 10:00 am- 3:00 pm – Session 4 (In-person at the Phoenix
  Center, 100 South Orange St., Richland Center, WI 53581)
• Friday, April 3, from 12-1:30 pm – Optional follow-up virtual session

Instructors and participants will meet for an in-person workshop on Friday, March 13, 2026, at the Phoenix Center, 100 South Orange St., Richland Center, WI 53581, from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm.

Early bird price is $175 per farm through December 31, 2025. Starting January 1, 2026, the cost of the workshop series is $225 per farm. This allows up to two people from each farm to participate in the program.

Registration deadline is January 16, 2026. This deadline is to ensure participants receive the materials in the mail before the first virtual session. This workshop is limited to 20 farms. You can learn more and find the registration link at go.wisc.edu/shoebox.

If you have any questions, please contact joy.kirkpatrick@wisc.edu, 608-263-3485 or kelly.wilfert@wisc.edu, 608-263-5798.

This workshop series is supported by the USDA – NIFA award 2024-70028-43552, through the North Central Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Center 2024-2025 project.