Time & Location
September 25, 2025
8:30AM - 3:30 PM CT
Josey Pavilion
5190 County Road 398, Decatur, TX
About the event:
A one-day workshop for family ranchers, farmers, and rural landowners.
As family farms and ranches face challenges like aging producer populations, rising costs, and urban development pressures, succession and transition planning have never been more critical. This workshop will explore practical tools and strategies for navigating the complexities of passing land and operations to the next generation. With insights from Holistic Management, Wayne Knight and other experts will guide participants in creating plans that support long-term land health, economic resilience, and family well-being.
Fee:
This event is FREE, however registration is required so we can get an accurate headcount for the lunch caterers. Thank you!
Agenda:
8:30 – 9:00
Welcome Introductions - Hilary Knight, TX-GLC Cross Timbers Chapter
9:00 – 9:30
Jake McNamara, Ranch Manager - Dixon Water Foundation
9:30 – 10:30
Garrett Couts, Attorney - Brady & Hamilton, LLP
Transition Planning is a “Team” approach involving a variety of professionals
Entities
Liability
General estate docs & non-probate assets / planning
Probate types generally
FSA program payments/ programs
Planning for non-participating heirs
Partition overview and issues
Landowner liability statutes
10:30 – 10:45 Break
10:45 – 11:45
Brandt Self, CPA – CliftonLarsonAllen LLP
Gift & Estate Tax
Unified Exemption
Phasing out of those exemptions in 2026
Annual exclusions
Portability
Brief examples of types of Trusts
Basis: Carry-over & Step-up
Landowning entities
11:45 – 12:30
Lunch & Sponsor Presentation – Capital Farm Credit
12:30- 1:30
Ethan Smith, Family Business Consultant - Pinion
“Soft side” of planning
Physiological
Management v. Ownership v. Family
Discussion rather than
Vision and goals
Governance
Expectations of family members
Core of what family business planning is
Life cycles of planning
Expectations for next generation
Advisors: Wealth, tax, legal, etc.
1:30 – 1:45 Break
1:45 – 2:45
Wayne Knight, Executive Director - Holistic Management International
Begin with the end in mind
Being intentional: rules and clarity of purpose; business structures; outcomes
Combining family expectations – how to do this?
Why a goal that includes a vision of what you want your land to look like?
Why is this so powerful? (Thinking Hats/ Decision Testing)
A job begun is a job half done
2:45 – 3:30 Speaker Panel Q&A
3:30 - Adjourn
Your Presenter(s):
Garrett Couts, Attorney, Brady & Hamilton, LLP
Brandt Self, CPA, Clifton Larson Allen, LLP
Ethan Smith, Family Business Consultant, Pinon Company
Wayne Knight, Executive Director, Holistic Management International
Jake McNamara, North Texas Ranch Manager, Dixon Water Foundation
Thank you to our collaborators and funders.
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