The 2026 Farm Transitions Conference will be held Feb. 5–6 at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel & Conference Center in Ankeny. The conference is hosted by the Beginning Farmer Center at Iowa State University.
The two-day conference will bring together farmers, landowners and agricultural professionals seeking practical guidance on farm succession planning, options to transfer land and assets and long-term farm viability. Attendees will hear from experienced attorneys, farm management specialists, economists and transition experts who understand the unique challenges facing farm families.
“Planning for a farm’s future can feel complex and overwhelming, but with the right tools, it can be both manageable and exciting,” said Kristiana Coutu, director of the Beginning Farmer Center and senior counsel with the Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation at Iowa State. “Whether participants are just beginning to consider retirement, actively transitioning management or ownership or navigating multi-generational decision-making, the conference offers timely and actionable information.”
Session topics will include:
- How current tax laws affect farm transfers and estate plans
- Using business entities to support succession goals
- Long-term care and retirement planning while protecting land and family relationships
- Considerations for non-family succession
- Strategies for having productive, and sometimes difficult, family and business conversations
- Practical steps to move from “we should plan” to “we have a plan”
“Beyond the sessions, the conference offers valuable opportunities to connect with other farmers and landowners who face similar challenges and decisions,” mentioned Coutu. Previous participants have noted that these conversations, in addition to the sessions, make the conference worthwhile.
All participants will receive a complimentary copy of the updated Estate and Succession Planning for the Farm, a 100-page workbook published by ISU Extension and Outreach, along with lifetime access to the new Estate and Succession Planning for the Farm Portal, an online resource designed to support attendees before, during and after the conference.
To attend, register online at the 2026 Farm Transitions Conference website. Participants who cannot attend in person may opt for the virtual option when registering.
For more information, visit the Beginning Farmer Center website or contact the Beginning Farmer Center at bfc@iastate.edu or 515-357-6680.
