Course helps students returning to the family farm
A Kansas State University course is helping students and their families tackle one of agriculture’s most difficult challenges: returning to the farm after college and planning for long-term business succession.
Introduced in 2024, AGEC 450: Returning to the Farm, equips students with tools to analyze farm finances, develop business plans and navigate generational transitions in family-owned operations.
Developed by Robin Reid, Ashlee Westerhold and Richard Llewelyn in the Department of Agricultural Economics, the course is designed for students who are planning to rejoin their family’s farming or ranching business. Coursework includes enterprise budgeting, estate and transition planning, and analysis of business structures and tax implications.
“Returning home to the farm is more than just going back to work—it’s about ensuring the long-term viability of a business and maintaining strong family relationships,” said Westerhold, Director of the Office of Farm and Ranch Transition.
A cornerstone of the course is the “family in-service weekend,” held early in the semester. Students invite family members or business partners to campus for a weekend of workshops and facilitated discussions. This year, 22 students and more than 80 guests attended.
The event includes presentations by legal and financial experts such as Mark Dikeman, executive director of the Kansas Farm Management Association, and Roger McEowen, a Washburn University professor specializing in agricultural and tax law.
Topics include estate planning, business entity structures, and intergenerational fairness—particularly how to bring one child back into the operation while remaining equitable to others who may not be involved.
“The weekend is designed to spark open and honest conversations,” Westerhold said. “We want families to talk about their expectations, concerns and hopes for the future.”
According to post-event surveys, 100% of respondents rated the in-service as “valuable” or “very valuable.” Many noted increased clarity around the return process and greater confidence in managing family and business transitions.
One former student, Garrett Korte, said the course helped him and his family prepare for his return to their seventh-generation operation. Korte now manages a small square bale business and rents row crop acreage while working alongside his father and uncle on the family’s 10,000-acre farm.
“We knew I couldn’t just come back and be a ‘yes man,’” Korte said. “Dad wanted me to succeed, and I didn’t want to fail. That meant we needed a plan.”
Korte credited the course and the K-State Office of Farm and Ranch Transitioning for helping his family work through tough conversations.
“They make it easier because they start the conversations a lot of people are scared to have,” Korte said. “You realize you’re not the only one figuring this out.”
Westerhold said stories like Korte’s show the importance of offering practical, real-world education for students in agriculture.
“If a family can freely and openly communicate about their goals for the future of the farm, they have a much better chance of succeeding,” Westerhold said. “This class is about helping make that happen.”
The course and in-service weekend will continue as a regular part of the K-State agricultural economics curriculum.
