EDGEWOOD, Iowa – Iowa State University Extension and Outreach in Delaware and Clayton Counties will host a Dairy-Focused Estate and Succession Planning for the Farm Workshop on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Woods Edge Golf Course, 504 W. Union St., Edgewood, IA 52042.

This workshop is designed to help farm operators and families begin or advance their farm estate and succession planning goals. It will also highlight the new ISU Estate and Succession Planning Portal, developed by the ISU Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation and ISU Extension Farm Management Specialists.

Participants will learn about:• Estate and succession planning considerations• Setting goals and improving family communication• Building a complete succession plan for the farm• Navigating and using the ISU Estate and Succession Planning Portal

Joseph Lensing, ISU Extension Farm Management Specialist, will lead discussions on estate and succession planning fundamentals, including ownership structures, legal and tax considerations, communication strategies, and the steps to begin or update a transition plan. Lensing will also demonstrate how to use the new ISU Estate and Succession Planning Portal to access resources and tools designed to help families plan confidently for the future.

Dairy specialists Jennifer Bentley and Larry Tranel will share information and real-world examples tailored specifically for dairy producers, focusing on the unique financial, operational, and family dynamics involved in transitioning dairy operations to the next generation. Participants will gain practical insights on facility transfer, herd management, and balancing ownership and labor across family members as part of their long-term transition plans.

Each registrant will receive a workbook and a free lifetime subscription to the ISU Estate and Succession Planning Portal (a $75 value). The four-hour program also includes a meal.

Registration Details

Registration is $50 per person.Pre-registration is encouraged by November 24 to ensure materials and provide portal access the day of the workshop.

Please contact Clayton County Extension at 563-245-1451 or Delaware County Extension at 563-927-4201 with any questions.

This program is supported by the ISU Center for Agricultural Law and Taxation and ISU Extension and Outreach Agriculture and Natural Resources, with additional local sponsorship from the Delaware County Dairy Promoters and the Clayton County Dairy Promotion Board.

The fees for service will be used to offset direct expenses and support local Extension agriculture programming.

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From Ideas to Action: Students Shape Community Solutions at 4-H Summit

Angie Dougherty

Fayette, Iowa – Seventy-eight middle and high school students from 13 area schools gathered at Upper Iowa University for the eighth annual Youth Voice in Action Summit, hosted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. The event focused on one big idea: youth voices matter and they can spark real change in their schools and communities.

Students represented Central Elkader, Crestwood, Edgewood-Colesburg, Postville, South Winneshiek, St. John’s (Independence), St. Joe’s (New Hampton), St. Teresa of Calcutta (Calmar), Starmont, Sumner-Fredericksburg, Tripoli, Waukon, and West Central.

Throughout the day, participants explored leadership skills through interactive workshops on decision making, communication, self-awareness, creativity, and problem solving. Each session challenged youth to think critically, work as a team, and discover their own leadership potential.

“Our goal is to give youth the tools and confidence to lead,” said Angie Dougherty, Youth Program Specialist for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. “By the end of the day, they’ve practiced making decisions as a group and started building an action plan to improve their school or community.”

Using the “5 Whys” strategy, students worked in school teams to identify issues that matter most to them, ranging from crowded hallways and boring advisory periods to improving school lunch systems. With guidance from caring adult mentors, each team began drafting steps toward solutions they can implement this school year.

The workshops were anything but ordinary lectures, they were hands-on experiences designed to make leadership real. In one session, Jenna Stephan Bremer, County Youth Coordinator, and Delaney Holthe, Winneshiek Outreach Program Assistant, challenged students to pack for a trip using only a limited list of items. The catch? They had to make decisions as a team under time pressure. Laughter and debate filled the room as students learned that listening and compromise are key to moving ideas forward.

Meanwhile, in another classroom, Becky Rea, Allamakee K-12 Coordinator, handed out colorful building blocks and a set of tricky instructions. Teams raced to construct structures while facing communication barriers. Some couldn’t speak, others couldn’t see the plans. The exercise revealed how easily misunderstandings derail progress and why clear communication matters in every setting, from school projects to community boards.

Other sessions focused on self-awareness, creativity, and problem solving, giving youth tools to manage stress, think outside the box, and tackle challenges head-on. These skills will help them not only in their action plans but in everyday life.

The summit was made possible through support from the Iowa 4-H Foundation, local county extension offices, and Upper Iowa University. For more information about Iowa 4-H Youth Development programs, visit www.extension.iastate.edu/4h or contact your local ISU Extension and Outreach office.

See below photos with captions:

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach staff from NE IA: Lori Dietzenbach, Becky Rea, Delaney Holthe, Jenna Steffen, Camilla Schlosser, and Emma Martins. Front: Kendra Crooks, Peggy Schilling, Kathy Hennings, Makaela Kime, and Angie Dougherty.

Youth were challenged to think outside the box to create the tallest tower using with limited tape and spaghetti noodles.

Going on an adventure, small groups had to prioritize a list of supplies with limited information and time.

Large group photo features youth from 13 area schools.

Additional Stories Published Online

The following news releases have been published on the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach website.

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10/30/2025 Cover Crop and No-Till Field Day to Be Held Near Ollie Nov. 18

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10/30/2025 Iowa Learning Farms to Host Conservation On Tap Event in Waverly

Iowa Learning Farms will host a “Conservation On Tap” event on Wednesday, Nov. 19, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Bremer Brewing Company in Waverly. The event, which is available at no cost, will provide local farmers, landowners and urban residents with a chance to discuss and ask questions. There will be an opportunity for networking following the event.