Take Root Farm Succession & Estate Planning Conference

Learn skills on how to pass on your farm to the next generation at the Take Root Farm Succession & Estate Planning Conference!

About this Event

Welcome to the Take Root Farm Succession & Estate Planning Conference! Join us at The James B. Henry Center for Executive Development for a day filled with insightful sessions and expert advice on securing the future of your farm. Learn about succession planning and estate management from industry professionals, network with fellow farmers, and gain valuable knowledge to ensure the legacy of your farm. Don't miss out on this opportunity to grow and protect your farm for generations to come!

Presented by:

• MICHIGAN PORK PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION

• GREENSTONE FINANCIAL SERVICES

• MACMA APPLE

• MICHIGAN FARM BUREAU

Sponsored by:

• Farm Bureau Insurance

• Farm Bureau Crop Insurance

• Foster Swift Collins & Smith, PC

• Varnum Law

• Warner Norcross + Judd LLP

• Fraleigh Law

Schedule (as of 9/30/2025)

Registration and Breakfast
7:30-8:00a - Lobby/Heritage Room

Welcome
8:00a - Heritage Room

If Your Table Could Talk
8:00a-9:00a - Heritage Room
Jolene Brown ( https://jolenebrown.com/)

How We Did It: Succession Planning from the Kitchen Table
9:00a-10:15a - Heritage Room
Koebel Farms, Welden Farms & Swisslane Farms
Moderated by Jolene Brown

Break
10:15-10:30a

Estate Planning Essentials Group Session
10:30a-11:20a - Heritage Room
Trent Hilding

Breakout Session 1
11:25a-12:15p

Room B106/107
Financial Resilience: Insights on Legal, Tax, and Financial
Strategies for Farms (Tentative Title)
GreenStone Farm Credit Services

Room B120
Longterm Planning (Tentative Title)
Michael Fraleigh, Fraleigh Law

Room B119
Farm Estate Tax Planning
Jeff Bushey, CPA, Nietzke & Faupel, PC

Lunch
12:15p-12:55p - Heritage Room

Breakout Session 2
1:00p-1:50p

Room B106/107
Financial Planning & Wealth Management Case Studies -
Prosperous Plots & Harvest Hiccups (Tent. Title)
Ben Bakken, Tri-Star Trust

Room B120
Large Farms & Multiple Operations
Michael C. Zahrt, Foster Swift

Room B119
Farm Estate Tax Planning
Jeff Bushey, CPA, Nietzke & Faupel, PC

Breakout Session 3
1:55p-2:45p

Room B106/107
Estate Planning and Life Insurance Options
Trent Rappuhn, Frank Campione & Jim Dempsey
Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan

Room B120
Choosing Your Farm’s Business Structure and Examples of Succession Plans Utilizing Different Entities
Dean Reisner, Varnum Law

Room B119
Distribution & Equalization Ideas for Distributing Your Estate Amongst Farm & Non-Farm Children
Danelle Harrington, Warner Norcross

Break
2:45p-3:00p

Breakout Session 4
3:00p-3:50p

Room B106/107
Medicare Made Easy
Sylvia Bittner, Farm Bureau Health Services

Room B120
Choosing Your Farm’s Business Structure and Examples of Succession Plans Utilizing Different Entities
Dean Reisner, Varnum Law

Room B119
Young Farmer Focused Estate Planning
Thomas A. Doyle, Doyle Law PC

Let Go of the Rope
3:55p-4:30p - Heritage Room
Jolene Brown ( https://jolenebrown.com/)

Thank You and Wrap Up
4:30p - Heritage Room

Agenda


🕑: 07:30 AM - 08:00 AM
Registration & Breakfast

🕑: 08:00 AM
Welcome

🕑: 08:00 AM - 09:00 AM
If Your Table Could Talk
Host: Jolene Brown

🕑: 09:00 AM - 10:15 AM
How We Did It: Succession Planning From the Kitchen Table
Host: Koebel Farms

Info: New for 2026! Join us for a powerful and practical panel discussion featuring three multi-generational farm families who will candidly share their real-life experiences with estate and succession planning. Moderated by renowned speaker, author, and family business consultant Jolene Brown, this session will dive into the challenges, hard conversations, and successful strategies these families have used to secure the future of their farms.


Each family brings a unique perspective—from navigating legal complexities to addressing emotional hurdles and preserving both relationships and the legacy of their operations. This moderated conversation will offer valuable insights for anyone facing or anticipating the transition of a family farm.


Attendees will also have the opportunity to ask questions during an open Q&A segment, gaining direct access to advice and lessons learned from families who’ve “been there” and from Jolene’s deep expertise in the field.

🕑: 10:15 AM - 10:30 AM
Break

🕑: 10:30 AM - 11:20 AM
Estate Planning Essentials Group Session
Host: Trent Hilding

Info: Estate planning is the process of organizing how your assets—like land, money, and other property—will be managed and distributed after your death or if you become incapacitated. This Estate Planning 101 will give some of the basic tools used in order to protect your assets, provide for loved ones, and help minimize tax and legal complications.

🕑: 11:25 AM - 12:15 PM
Breakout Session 1

Info: See full schedule for session options and room locations!

🕑: 12:15 PM - 12:55 PM
Lunch

🕑: 01:00 PM - 01:50 PM
Breakout Session 2

Info: See full schedule for session options and room locations!

🕑: 01:55 PM - 02:45 PM
Breakout Session 3

Info: See full schedule for session options and room locations!

🕑: 02:45 PM - 03:00 PM
Break

🕑: 03:00 PM - 03:50 PM
Breakout Session 4

Info: See full schedule for session options and room locations!

🕑: 03:55 PM - 04:30 PM
Let Go of the Rope
Host: Jolene Brown

🕑: 04:30 PM
Thank You & Wrap Up

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