EBS STAFF
Reframing Rural has launched its fourth documentary podcast season, “Succession Stories,” created in collaboration with rancher-led nonprofit Winnett ACES. The season explores the process of passing family farms and ranches to the next generation, highlighting elements like aging producer demographics, rising land values and production costs, climate change, farm stress and the reluctance many farm families feel about discussing transition plans.
Through personal narratives from five Montana farm and ranch families in the state of Montana—including the Hammonds-Lien family of Malta, Gene Curry of Valier, the Bruskis of Ekalaka, the Fritz family of Chester and Sig Pugrud of Winnett—the season aims to encourage candid conversations and encourage succession planning. A bonus episode featuring a panel of succession experts will drop in late December with practical resources for families ready to begin the process.
“Behind these challenges lies a wellspring of stories that don’t often surface within conventional succession planning resources today,” said Megan Torgerson, Reframing Rural founder, host and producer. Torgerson, who grew up on her family’s farm and ranch near Dagmar, Montana, shared her family’s succession story in Reframing Rural’s third season. “We’re already hearing from listeners that ‘Succession Stories’ is opening hearts and inspiring conversations.”
“Succession Stories” is available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, with support from the Plank Stewardship Initiative, World Wildlife Fund, Headwaters Foundation and American Farmland Trust. More information is available at reframingrural.org.
