Planning for the Future of Agriculture with Non-Familial Succession | Ashlee Westerhold
Finding Your Place in Agriculture: Embracing Opportunities and Leadership
“Helping younger generations get into agriculture is key, not only to sustain farms but to keep small communities alive.”
Ashlee Westerhold’s work in succession planning and farm transition has been a driving force in helping farmers and ranchers navigate one of agriculture’s most difficult processes. As the director of the Office of Farm and Ranch Transition at Kansas State University, Ashlee has dedicated her career to ensuring that the next generation of farmers and ranchers have the resources and support they need to take over operations and keep them thriving.
Ashlee’s journey to this position didn’t follow a traditional path. While growing up in Northeast Georgia, Ashlee’s family wasn’t directly involved in agriculture, but her father, originally from Nebraska, instilled in her a deep connection to the industry. After receiving her bachelor's and master's degrees in agricultural economics from the University of Nebraska, Ashlee became intrigued by the idea of helping farmers and ranchers continue their businesses across generations. Her career trajectory took shape when she worked under Dr. Ron Hanson, a renowned expert in farm and ranch succession planning, and she became deeply passionate about guiding families through this complex process.
Her work at Kansas State has largely centered on creating and managing the Landlink program, which provides an essential service to beginning farmers and ranchers. Landlink programs are designed to connect retiring farmers with those eager to take over and continue farming operations. The program helps solve the challenge many farmers face—finding someone to continue their legacy when their own children are not interested in coming back to the farm. Ashlee helps facilitate these crucial connections, ensuring that young farmers can access land, equipment, and opportunities that would otherwise be out of reach.
But Ashlee’s role isn’t just about connecting people. She also provides personalized guidance to farmers and ranchers, helping them develop succession plans that align with their goals. Through one-on-one consultations, she works with farmers who are planning to retire or pass the farm on to a successor, whether that person is family or non-related. She helps them navigate the technical aspects of these plans, ensuring they are financially sound and feasible. From understanding how estate planning affects succession to structuring buyouts and leases, Ashlee is there to provide clarity and guidance every step of the way.
One of the biggest challenges Ashlee sees is the difficulty young farmers face in accessing capital. With land and equipment prices rising rapidly, many aspiring farmers can’t afford to start on their own. That’s where her work is especially crucial—helping young farmers find opportunities, whether through landowner partnerships, capital investment, or mentorship. Ashlee emphasizes the importance of helping younger generations get into agriculture, not only to sustain farms but to keep small communities alive. When farmers retire without a plan, the ripple effects are felt across these communities, from school consolidations to shrinking economies.
Through her role at Kansas State, Ashlee has also introduced a "Returning to the Farm" course to help students interested in going back to family farms. This course provides them with the tools and knowledge they need to navigate the complexities of farm succession before they even return home, setting them up for success when the time comes. Her approach ensures that young people are prepared, not only to inherit a farm but to lead it into the future.
Ashlee’s work underscores the importance of time in succession planning. The earlier a farm family starts preparing, the better the transition can be. Having those hard conversations and planning ahead can avoid financial strain and family conflicts down the road. Ashlee’s passion for ensuring that farms stay within families or are passed on to committed young people is evident in every project she tackles.
https://www.agkansitions.org/
https://www.agkansitions.org/land-link
https://agmanager.info/events/farm-and-ranch-transition-conferences
