Who’s going to get the ranch and what are they going to do with it?

Will your future plans for your land create harmony or strife for your family?

These questions weigh on the minds of many Harney County ranchers.

With the average age of a farmer or rancher in the county edging toward 60, a great deal of land will be changing hands in the near future. Statewide, up to 10.45 million acres (or 64 percent) of Oregon farm and ranch land is expected to change hands in the next 20 years. It is uncertain who will work this land into the future, since recent research from Oregon State University and Portland State University found that up to 84 percent of Oregon farmers and ranchers do not have a plan for passing on their farm business and assets to the next generation.

The lack of a succession plan can have a dramatic effect on the farmer’s or rancher’s family, the future of the business they’ve built, and their legacy of land. Having a comprehensive succession plan in place can reduce the stress and cost of dividing the estate for the family when the owner passes. And a well-planned estate can help with passing a viable farm or ranch business to the next generation.

To start to address this problem, the statewide nonprofit Rogue Farm Corps is organizing a free workshop on succession planning for farmers, ranchers, and all agricultural land owners.

The workshop includes a performance of Map of My Kingdom — a one-woman play commissioned by the Practical Farmers of Iowa and written by Iowa’s Poet Laureate. It highlights the family dynamics of farm succession — how things can go wrong and how to maintain good communication for the sake of your family and business.

Guests will also learn from an attorney about how to plan the farm estate, and about how a working land easement can be part of a succession plan.

The workshop will be on Friday, Feb. 22, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Harney County Education Service District, 25 Fairview Heights Loop in Burns.

All are welcome, and the event is free.

Please RSVP and refer any questions about the event to nellie@roguefarmcorps.com, (971) 409-6806.