The Virginia Department of Forestry and Virginia Cooperative Extension encourage landowners to develop a plan to pass their land to the next generation. The Next Generation Program, a partnership between the Virginia Department of Forestry and Extension, helps Virginia landowners plan to protect forests within forests, and within families.
As an integral part of both Virginia Tech and Virginia State University, Extension works in communities across the Commonwealth to share knowledge, support businesses, and implement research that enhances the well-being of all Virginians.
To help landowners get started and clear up misconceptions about the succession planning process, the Generation Next program is hosting in-person and virtual workshops this summer and fall. The workshops, held in South Boston, Galax and New Kent, serve as opportunities for family members to ask tough questions, receive valuable information and get on the same page about their future plans.
Typically, these sessions are in-person, but a virtual workshop has been added so that dispersed families can use these helpful resources and tools to make the planning process more accessible and manageable.
To participate in the workshop, Families pay a single fee to participate. Registration opens six weeks before each workshop. Visit the Extension website for more information.
The in-person workshop dates are as follows:
- August 26-27 in South Boston
- October 27 at Galax
- Nov. 2 in New Kent County
- Virtual workshops are held from 3-5pm. September 7, 8, 14 and 15
“Many landowners are overwhelmed by the succession planning process and assume it involves complicated estate planning, primarily with lawyers and accountants,” says Carl Didier, manager of the Virginia Forest Service’s forest conservation program. “The Next Generation program helps simplify estate planning and shows how it can be part of the legacy planning process. Succession planning is an ongoing process. Just as a forest changes over time, your plans evolve. As priorities change or family dynamics change, so must planning for your estate.
Through the Generation NEXT program, Extension and the Virginia Department of Forestry offer families the opportunity to participate in legacy planning for their land.
“One of the most important steps in succession planning involves conversations about land ownership and the people who will manage their land after they’re gone,” says Karen Snape, Next Generation Program Coordinator. “When unexpected events occur before you have clear plans for your estate and land, things can quickly become complicated for surviving family members. It’s important to have these conversations now.”
Partner of the workshop series, the award-winning Legacy Plan: A Guide for Virginia Landowners printing, It provides an overview of the nine main steps to developing a solid land succession plan. It includes case studies from landowners in Virginia and directs landowners to tools and resources. The free version is available on the Virginia Tech website or printed by request.
Generation NEXT is an award-winning and nationally recognized program that helps landowners and their families navigate difficult topics. While there is a cost to planning for the orderly transfer of land to the next generation, the cost of not planning can threaten the future of the land and even family unity. By researching and planning early, landowners can ensure their wishes are met and minimize financial costs and emotional challenges, ensuring a legacy of timber for future generations.
