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2024 Ag Legacy Symposium - Sierra Valley

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Overview

This one-day event was held on March 16, 2024 to prepare farms or ranches or agri-businesses, big or small, for the transition to the next generation. The session covered legal aspects, financial topics, political factors, family dynamics, and provide real life scenarios to consider incorporating into succession plans.

This symposium was geared for those who need to kick start their estate plan, those with plans under development or those looking to refine their plan!

If you are interested in a future session please email UC Cooperative Extension Livestock and Natural Resources Advisor in Plumas, Sierra and Butte counties,  Tracy Schohr at  tkschohr@ucanr.edu. 

Resources

These resources were included in event attendee binders. 

Action Plan 

Tactical Plan 

Business Plan 

Memorial Plan 

Advanced Health Care Directive Form  (amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 287, Sec. 1 (AB 3211) effective January 1, 2019) 

Proposition 19 Fact Sheet - RTAP 

Hyatt McIntire & Associates - Estate Planning Questionnaire visit here to learn more from our speaker Amanda Pedrett at https://www.hm1law.com/estate-planning/ 

Articles on Estate Planning

Additional Resources - RightRisk is an innovative risk research and education effort to help farmers or ranchers understand and explore risk management decisions and evaluate the effects of those decisions.

 

Sponsors

Thank you to our sponsors who help make this event possible. 

Plumas Sierra Cattlemen Logo
 
PLUMAS_LOGO_CMYK_Stacked
 
USDA NIfa
 
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Featured Speakers

Planning YOUR Ag Legacy

John Hewlett, University of Wyoming Extension
Jeff Tranel, Colorado State University Extension

A LEGACY is the summation of a lifetime of achievement and the context in which that lifetime will be remembered. Planning an Ag Legacy should include discussion of all five components of a true legacy: values and life lessons, personal possessions of emotional value, fulfilling final wishes and instructions, ownership of financial assets and real estate, and management succession. "If the discussions between generations do not cover all five components of a legacy, the legacy transfer will not be completed successfully," notes John Hewlett, Extension Ranch/Farm Management Specialist at the University of Wyoming.

https://www.rightrisk.org/default.shtml

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Building Your Plan: Navigating Options, Legal Requirements & Minimizing Taxes   
 
Amanda Pedrett, Chico State Alumni, Partner at Hyatt McIntire & Associates 

An estate plan is not one-size-fits-all. Farmers and ranchers face unique challenges in this area. Our firm serves farmers, ranchers, and businesses to develop customized estate plans and navigate the legal processes. During this presentation Amanda will share case studies with options for participants to consider as they embark on establishing or revising their plans. “Our goal at Hyatt McIntire & Associates is to help people control their lives and assets through thoughtful and customized legal documents," states Amanda. "I use my background in agriculture, my passion for protecting and improving the lives of local farmers and ranchers, and my legal knowledge to craft customized plans that will give my clients peace of mind that they have reduced uncertainty and legal expenses for family members at a later date."

www.hm1law.com

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Tools for Estate Planning: Communication and Conservation 
Tim Koopmann, Rancher Alameda County  

In the middle of California’s Bay Area, Tim Koopmann’s 850-acre family ranch is nestled between a golf course named after an endangered species, commuter-packed Interstate Highway 680 and ranchettes on what used to be working rangelands. Tim will share about the challenges endured in the 1990s, following the passing of his parents and grappling with the option to sell the ranch. The estate taxes on the small working ranch, in an area with some of the nation’s most expensive land, reached nearly $750,000. At the eleventh hour, sale of the ranch was averted through the utilization of conservation easement. “I am proud our family’s ranching legacy will never be surrendered to development,” states Tim Koopmann. “We used a conservation easement as a tool to deal with a lack of estate planning by my parents. I have taken a much different approach to estate planning and communication for the next generation - to sustain future generational transfers.” 
 
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Tools for Estate Planning:, Team, Talent and Trajectory
Ryan Schohr, Farmer Butte County 

In 1861, the Schohr Family farming operation was established in Northern California.  The diversified family farm currently produces and hauls sushi rice, walnuts, hay and commercial cattle, in addition to managing wildlife habitat and alpine forestland.  In the 1980’s the farm lacked estate planning and was faced with high interest rates, depressed agricultural markets and leveraged family buy-outs.  “We learned hard lessons from a lack of estate planning by our ancestors that can never be rectified,” states Ryan Schohr.  “Today, our family works with a team of talented advisors to actively plan for generational transfers, volatile markets, and unfavorable public policy, to keep the operation steadfast for the next generation.”