Farm Succession Outreach Specialist
Division of Extension | Agriculture Institute
Hometown: Sesser, Illinois
Joy Kirkpatrick has worked for the University of Wisconsin since 1993. She began her Extension career in Richland County, Wisconsin. She is the farm succession outreach specialist for UW-Madison Division of Extension. She collaborates with colleagues to provide educational programs on farm succession planning. Kirkpatrick has extensive experience facilitating farm succession discussions with farm businesses and families. She teaches seminars throughout the US on farm succession facilitation. Kirkpatrick co-developed the Certified Farm Succession Coordinator training that has certified over 550 participants in farm succession planning. She is certified to teach Mental Health First Aid and an active listening training called COMET™. Kirkpatrick grew up on a farrow to finish hog farm in Southern Illinois, the youngest of seven. Joy is honored to work with farm families on their most personal issues when working on farm succession planning. Kirkpatrick received both her BS and MS degrees from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale.
Talks:
Why is everyone talking about farm succession?
Farm succession seems to be on everyone’s minds these days. Learn why it is a hot topic and some of the new and perennial challenges to succession planning.
Ten things to consider for farm succession
Farm succession can be easily set aside for another day because farm owners have so many other more immediate decisions to make. This presentation provides an overview of the common issues that make it easy to set aside and ten things to consider/do to get your plan started.
The Messy Middle of Farm Succession
Farm families find themselves in the Messy Middle of farm succession and don’t even know it. They know they’re uncomfortable and are stalled in their planning process, but they don’t know what to call it. This presentation helps farm members, family members, and service providers give a name to this common situation and ideas and activities to help them work through their own Messy Middle.