Farm Shield: Protecting Your Legacy from Life's Uncertainties

Contact Us

Conference Chairs

Mathias Ingle rmingle@purdue.edu 

 

Michele Jones jonesm@purdue.edu 

Save the date!

Kokomo Location: January 27, 2026

Bloomington Location: January 28, 2026

Farm Shield: Protecting Your Legacy from Life's Uncertainties is a comprehensive risk management education program designed to help Indiana farmers and their families safeguard their operations against key risks, often referred to as the "7 D's": death, division, debt, disagreement, dysfunction, disaster, and disability. This conference prioritizes essential areas of risk, including succession planning, financial analysis, farm stress, disability, and farm emergency planning are being delivered in two locations.

 

Keynote Speaker Jolene Brown

There is a Better Way! 

Navigating the Succession and Transition of Your Family Business

Do you really want your business to continue? If so, you’ve important work to do, starting now. In this upbeat, eye-opening keynote we’ll learn ten valuable lessons from farmers who are creating successful legacy businesses. With lots of insight and real-life stories, you’ll understand that transition does not have be a painful, dreaded process, but one that brings peace of mind, assurance of business, clarity for family, and renewed motivation to make a good business even better.

Jolene Brown standing in a corn field

 

 

Conference Agenda

General Session

  • Keynote Speaker Jolene Brown
  • Risk Assessment Worksheet
  • Code Red

Morning Breakout Session: choose between 

  • Disagreement & Dysfunction
  • Disaster & Disability

Lunch

Afternoon Breakout Session: choose between 

  • Estate & Succession Planning
  • Division & Debt

Closing Session

  • Breakout Speaker Panel
  • Closing Keynote Speaker Jolene Brown
  • Conference Wrap Up and Evaluation

 

Break Out Sessions

During the conference, we will offer two opportunities to participate in breakout sessions. Participants will select which session they would like to attend.  More information about each session is listed below. 

Registration Information

January 27, 2026 Kokomo
The Venue at Brookestone
1201 W. Alto Road, Kokomo, IN 

Registration link: 

Hotel Information:

 

January 28, 2026 Bloomington
Monroe Convention Center
302 S. College Ave., Bloomington, IN 

Registration Link: 

Hotel Information: 

 

 

 

Conference Sponsors

 

platinum sponsors

 

gold sponsors

 

Silver sponsors

 

Bronze sponsors

 

 

 

This material is based upon work supported by USDA/NIFA under Award Number 2024-70027-42470

 

North Central Extension Risk Management Education Logo

 

National Institute of Food and Agriculture U.S. Department of Agriculture Logo