Wisconsin Offers Farm Succession Training Scholarships

New funding cuts registration costs in half for professionals learning to help aging farmers navigate business transitions.

Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Financial Aid

Screen-print poster illustration of a weathered iron gate latch on a wooden fence, representing the continuity of rural farm succession. — Wisconsin is providing scholarships for professionals to train as farm succession coordinators, helping aging farmers manage business transitions and land continuity. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Should Wisconsin provide public scholarship support for farm succession planning training in your community?

Wisconsin is providing scholarships that reduce registration fees by 50% for Certified Farm Succession Coordinator training. This initiative helps professionals guide farmers through complex family conversations as business assets change hands.

Why it matters

The program addresses a critical need for skilled mediators, as farmers aged 65 and older currently own 40% of all farmland in the United States. Preparing for these transitions is vital to ensure that agricultural land and assets remain productive during ownership changes.

Scholarships cover 50% of registration costs for the training, which requires participants to complete four virtual sessions. The program is designed for financial advisors, attorneys, accountants, and farm mediators.

The players

International Farm Transition Network

This professional organization provides standardized training for those assisting in agricultural business successions.

The details

Participants learn facilitation strategies, communication techniques, and succession planning tools through four required virtual sessions. Upon successful completion, professionals receive a digital badge and an official listing from the International Farm Transition Network.

January 2027: The next virtual training session is scheduled to take place.

Culture Shift

The initiative reflects a growing recognition that successful agricultural continuity requires professional mediation, contrasting with traditional, informal methods of passing down land. This shift toward specialized training acknowledges the increasing complexity of tax, legal, and family dynamics in modern farming.

Local lenders, attorneys, and tax specialists in Wisconsin can now lower their professional development costs while gaining specialized skills in succession planning. These scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, requiring interested applicants to act quickly.

The takeaway

As land ownership ages, professional support for succession planning becomes an essential component of agricultural stability. Professionals looking to expand their expertise in family business mediation should monitor enrollment windows for upcoming training sessions.