Saving Our Acres: Estate Planning in West Virginia’s Fastest Growing Region
Agricultural Issues
Emily Morrow
Extension Agent
WVU Extension Service
Kearneysville
Abstract
An education program on Estate Planning was hosted for the farm communities in Berkeley and Jefferson County, WV to address the growing need for farmland preservation and farm transitioning to the next generation. These two counties out of only seven counties in West Virginia have had an increase in population in the past 10 years. Located just a short drive from Washington D.C., the area’s increased population has brought additional pressure for development of farmland. In the USDA Agriculture Censuses of 2017 and 2022, Berkeley County lost 11,091 acres of farmland (17.8%), and neighboring Jefferson County lost 5,679 acres (9.4%) of farmland. This program was funded by a Northeast Extension Risk Management Center and provided four face-to-face education sessions, with local professionals in finance, taxes, and legal, delivering the educational content. Among our local producers surveyed, 96% indicated they would be more likely to complete a transition or estate plan if participating in the educational workshop assisted in off setting the costs. Farm Operators that attended all sessions became eligible to seek a paid appointment with legal and financial professionals to start the estate or transition planning process. 35 individuals representing 26 farms and over 3,500 acres attended all four sessions. At the conclusion of the program, participants reported having a better understanding of the estate planning options available, making more informed decisions around estate planning, and accredited completing estate planning documents due to the funds provided as part of the grant. This session will discuss the program’s structure, delivery, impacts, and suggestions for implementation and adoption of programing in other locations.
Authors: Emily Morrow, Ryan Snyder
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Emily Morrow Extension Agent, West Virginia University, West Virginia, 25430
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Ryan Snyder Extension Agent, West Virginia University, West Virginia, 25401