Rural Leadership Succession: Supporting Ranching Communities Across Generations

Succession is often framed as the transfer of land and business from one generation to the next, however, long-term ranching sustainability also depends on something less visible: the transfer of leadership, relationships, and community voice.

For decades, many women producers have reported barriers to accessing resources, participating in decision-making, and being recognized as credible leaders within agricultural systems (The State of Gender Equity in U.S. Agriculture, 2024). Additionally, rural producers, due to their geographic locations, often lack direct connections to centers of power and rely on regional representation to amplify their needs. When long-term leaders step down from representative roles without a planned transition, those many years of work can quickly be erased.

This workshop explores leadership succession as a critical part of ranch and community resilience. We will examine how mentorship, peer networks, and intergenerational knowledge-sharing can be pathways for cultivating the next generation of rural leaders. Participants will leave with practical ideas for strengthening leadership pathways, expanding representation, and supporting thriving rural communities at the local and state level.

Questions? Contact cwelch@farmland.org.