International Farm Transition Network - Annual Conference

The 2026 International Farm Transition Network (IFTN) Annual Professional Development Conference will take place June 2-3.

Beyond Assets: Roles, Relationships, and Family Dynamics in Farm Transition - Facilitating Better Transitions for Farm Families

Farm transition is commonly framed in technical terms, with an emphasis on assets, ownership and legal structures. While these elements remain essential, experience across research, extension and professional practice consistently shows that successful succession depends just as much on how families navigate roles, relationships, and decision-making over time.

This year’s IFTN conference focuses on the human and relational dimensions of farm succession, recognizing that transitions involve not only the transfer of land and business assets, but also the transfer of labor, skills, authority, responsibility and identity. These processes are shaped by long-standing family norms, expectations, communication patterns, and emotional attachments, all of which require skilled facilitation and trust-building.

By centering roles, relationships, and family dynamics, the conference creates space for open, constructive discussion of sensitive issues, including gendered expectations, intergenerational negotiation, and uneven participation in decision-making, without positioning them as abstract or divisive concepts. This approach reflects IFTN’s commitment to holistic, facilitated farm transition planning that supports farm families in making informed, equitable, and sustainable transition decisions.

The keynote speaker is Professor Maura Farrell (University of Galway) alongside other presenters, including Russell Redding, Secretary of Agriculture at Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and Dr. Florence Becot, Agricultural Safety and Health Program Lead at Penn State University. There will also be a farm field trip.

Working on farm transition? Are you interested in sharing your farm transition case study, program, tool, or insight? Apply to present a 15-minute session during our Lightning Rounds at this year’s conference.

• Submission Deadline: April 24, 2026
• Successful Notifications: May 1, 2026
• All selected presenters must register for the conference.

Apply here 

Hotel Reservations
For hotel reservations please call the Hotel Reservations at 717-339-0020, Option 3 by Saturday, May 2. Individuals must identify themselves as being with the group, International Farm Transition Network, at the time the reservation is made to receive the special group rate.

Registration

Registration options and rates are as follows:

• Conference Registration and IFTN Membership: $375
• Conference Registration: $300
• IFTN Membership Only: $75

REGISTER NOW

Registration rates will increase by $100 after May 15.