To help begin the process, an informative program is being offered at the University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension Service (UW CES) office in Rock Springs in partnership with the Wyoming Agriculture and Natural Resource Mediation Program.

"Passing It On: Beginning the Farm Transfer and Estate Planning Process" is 1:30 p.m. Thursday, April 26, at Western Wyoming Community College in room 1005. The program is open to the public.

            Short presentations on estate planning topics for farmers and ranchers will be made by estate extension specialist Cole Ehmke, Ben Hansen, trust officer with Rock Springs National Bank, and Bridger Feuz, a UW CES educator serving Sweetwater and Uinta counties.

            "This program introduces agriculturalists to the process of transferring a farm estate," Ehmke said. "Many Wyoming producers haven't started a conversation with family members about their estate and don't have even a basic will.

            "We’ll offer presentations on beginning the estate transfer process, having a trust as part of an estate plan and keeping communications open during the planning process with family meetings, and we’ll end with a walk-through of a new estate planning resource developed by the Wyoming Department of Agriculture, UW and Wyoming attorneys. We'll also have plenty of time to answer questions."

            Ehmke said the focus is helping people get started with the estate transfer process and develop and implement a plan with appropriate tools.

            “This information is important when meeting with other estate-planning professionals, such as attorneys, tax advisers and financial planners," he said.

            The cost for materials available at the workshop is $10.

            For more information, contact Gary Grubb, a UW CES educator serving Uinta and Sweetwater counties, at (307) 352-6775 or ggrub@wwcc.cc.wy.us.