This Uplevel Dairy Podcast episode shares the full Farm Forward Conference panel with attorney Will McKinley, dairyman Tommy Oesch, consultant Kristy Pagel, advisor Steve Bodart, and family farm coach Elaine Froese on building multi-generational farm transitions as an ongoing legal, financial, and relational process. They discuss testing next-generation commitment through projects, off-farm work, mentors, peer networks, and family bylaws; clarifying roles for siblings/cousins using tools like StrengthsFinder and DISC; and keeping farms aligned through regular meetings, celebrations, and quarterly financial check-ins.

The panel contrasts successful transitions (everything on the table, commitment, compromise) with failures (stubbornness, toxicity, staying stuck), addresses estate tools like TOD deeds, revocable and irrevocable trusts, LLCs/corporations, and managing conflicts, cash flow targets, and the option to exit via sale. Final action steps emphasize alignment between spouses, writing letters, gratitude, grace, listening, and accepting continuous change.

02:35 Testing Next Gen Commitment

07:13 Best vs Worst Transitions

10:21 Preventing Estate Disputes

14:06 Future of Midwest Farms

17:22 Siblings and Cousins Leadership

22:25 Making Transition Ongoing

26:23 Meeting Rhythms That Work

28:29 The $2.50 Cash Flow Rule

29:39 Cash Flow Under Pressure

31:27 Trusts Explained Simply

33:08 Irrevocable Trust Tradeoffs

34:58 Estate Planning Resources

36:13 Getting Honest Family Input

40:25 Helping Seniors Let Go

44:45 When No Successor Exists

46:59 Why Ag Transitions Differ

52:00 Family Stories About Land

Transition Talks from the Farm Forward Conference
This Farm Forward Recap episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast features attorney Will McKinley, President of Menn Law, discussing the legal side of family farm transition planning. McKinley emphasizes that communication is critical and that lawyers can’t prescribe one-size-fits-all solutions; families need to clarify and align their goals before legal documents are drafted. He explains what he hopes clients bring to the table—financial records plus a shared “wish list” vision—and shares a success story involving bringing a non-family herdsman into ownership while keeping spouses, bankers, and accountants aligned.
He outlines tools often used (wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, entity structures) and notes tax challenges with lifetime sales, sometimes using an income-stream approach until a later trigger. He warns that the biggest obstacle is delaying the process and failing to commit time for a multi-meeting plan.
Contact Will McKinley at Menn Law:
William-McKinley@mennlaw.com
(920) 731-6631
https://mennlaw.com/

00:55 Meet Will McKinley
01:37 Communication Comes First
04:57 What to Bring Your Lawyer
07:49 Succession Success Story
10:39 Legal Tools and Tax Strategy
13:38 Where Plans Get Stuck

Transition Talks from the Farm Forward Conference

At the Farm Forward Conference, Uplevel Dairy Podcast host Peggy Coffeen interviews Steve Bodart of AgriGrowth Solutions about the financial side of family farm transition. Bodart explains his accrual-based financial consulting approach that connects production decisions to financial outcomes, benchmarks performance, and evaluates what both outgoing and incoming generations need and can afford. He emphasizes financial transparency so everyone hears the same message at the same time, and says succession is a journey requiring room for growth, disciplined debt payments, and honest discussions about cost of production, capital spending, and competitiveness.

Steve notes failures often stem from resisting change and poor communication without a facilitator. He advocates involving owners and capable mid-managers and giving younger generations responsibility for financial projects, such as analyzing how a transition barn can improve profitability.

AgriGrowth Solutions is a team of financial consultants with strong dairy backgrounds which represent and work for the best interests of dairy producers. The AGS team guides clients through their business’ financial position and assists in planning for their continued and future success.

Contact Steve Bodart, AgriGrowth Solutions: SteveBodart@agrigrowthsolutions.com

Visit: https://agrigrowthsolutions.com/

01:10 Meet Steve Bodart

01:50 What Steve Does

03:21 Financial Transparency

05:56 Planning for Growth

07:00 Building a Win Win Plan

09:42 Who Belongs in Meetings

11:20 Why Transitions Fail

14:44 Bringing Next Gen In

17:23 Real World Project Example