Leaving a Lasting Legacy – Jeffrey Tranel

Are you struggling with questions surrounding the transfer of your property to the next generation? How can you be fair to all of your children? Who will take over running your place? Who will take care of you in your last days? What can you do to help your passing be easier on those left behind?

Estate planning is important, but “legacy” planning is even more critical to today’s farm and ranch families, according to Jeffrey Tranel, Agricultural and Business Management Economist with Colorado State University. As modern families scatter across the country, and even the globe, farm and ranch families struggle with how to transfer their land, finances, experiences, culture, and values on to future generations.

Tranel will share ways for farm and ranch families to document their legacies and ease the burdens of transferring life experiences to future generations. Tranel and two colleagues authored a program titled “Leaving a Lasting Legacy”. It is a program designed to help individuals and families discuss, decide, and document a person’s (1) values and life lessons, (2) transfer of personal possessions having emotional value, (3) wishes and final instructions, and (4) transfer of financial assets and real estate.

Tranel’s professional interests focus primarily in financial management, risk management, accounting, income taxes, and human resource management. He has worked closely with more than 2,000 farm and ranch families and addressed audiences throughout Colorado, 24 other states, and the countries of Belarus, Ireland, Canada and New Zealand. Jeff gives 30-50 presentations each year, is responsible for economically related Extension work in southern Colorado, and has authored a book on human resources management, numerous fact sheets and other educational materials, and co-authored nine on-line courses (including “Leaving A Lasting Legacy”). He serves on numerous state, regional, and national committees. He currently sits on the National Farm Income Tax Task Force and Advisory Council to the Western Center for Risk Management Education.

Tranel was raised on a commercial and purebred cattle ranch in south central Wyoming and northwestern Colorado. He has lived and worked in the Arkansas Valley since 1987, even serving as the Mayor of Swink. He now lives in Pueblo with his wife, an Extension Agent for the military installations in Colorado Springs. Tranel has two grown sons.

Join Tranel, while he shares with his audience some ideas and his experiences on a variety of topics likely to include: the necessity of good intra-family communications; ways to improve intra-family communications; and other issues pertaining to leaving a lasting legacy.

Tranel will also be speaking at 9:00 am on Wednesday, February 6th . The title of this presentation will be “Preparing the Farm Business for the Next Decade.”