Planning ethically: Western conference session details estate planning in agriculture
“Estate planning is of the utmost importance for farm families aiming to preserve their farms and land for the next generation.” —David Claiborne
By Drew Viguet
National Agricultural Law Center
U of A System Division of Agriculture
April 4, 2025
Fast facts:
- Western session discusses ethics of estate planning
- Sawtooth Law Offices’ David Claiborne is presenting the session
- Registration is online, livestream available
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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — According to data from the 2022 U.S. Census of Agriculture, family-owned farms make up an enormous amount of U.S. agriculture — accounting for 95 percent of U.S. farms and operating 84 percent of land on farms.
With so much of U.S. agriculture relying on family farms, estate planning is especially important to secure longevity of a family farm after the owners pass. Among the many considerations, such as heirs and trusts, there is also the legal ethics component.
“Estate planning is of the utmost importance for farm families aiming to preserve their farms and land for the next generation,” said David Claiborne, partner and founding member at Sawtooth Law Offices PLLC. “The logistics and details of a plan are crucial, and they go hand-in-hand with the ethical standards that must be followed.”
Claiborne will present “Ethical Considerations in Estate Planning and Administration,” at the Western Water, Agricultural, and Environmental Law Conference. Now in its third year, the conference will be held June 19-20 at the Peppermill Resort Spa Casino in Reno, Nevada. This year, the program is co-hosted by the National Agricultural Law Center, or NALC, and the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture Foundation, or NASDA Foundation.
Claiborne will explore ethical considerations that arise when planning estates and trusts for married couples, multiple generations, and interrelated agribusinesses. He will also cover pitfalls to avoid when administering a trust or estate.
“The stakes are high when it comes to estate planning in agriculture,” Claiborne said. “Whether it be dealing with multi-generational families or a large agribusiness, ethical considerations are necessary to prevent disputes and trouble down the line.”
The session will also discuss representation concerns related to business structures used in estate and trust planning.
“The way estates are structured has long-term implications for families and businesses,” said Claiborne. “The ethical considerations that we’ll discuss in my session ensure that all parties involved in the estate are represented fairly, meeting legal requirements and intended outcomes.”
The conference will have a livestream option. It also features the opportunity for continuing education credit, as well as continuing education from the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers.
“Our Western conference lineup covers numerous topics especially relevant to the Western region of the country, but these areas of agricultural law have significant influence for stakeholders nationwide as well,” said NALC Director Harrison Pittman. “David has years of legal experience pertaining to estates and trusts that attendees will find valuable, whether they attend in person or online. His insight into the ethics of preparing for the next generation is of great value.”
For information about the NALC, visit nationalaglawcenter.org. The NALC is also on X, Facebook and LinkedIn. Subscribe online to receive NALC Communications, including webinar announcements, the NALC’s Quarterly Newsletter, and The Feed.
About the National Agricultural Law Center
Created by Congress in 1987, the National Agricultural Law Center serves as the nation’s leading source of agricultural and food law research and information. The NALC works with producers, agribusinesses, state and federal policymakers, lenders, Congressional staffers, attorneys, land grant universities, students, and many others to provide objective, nonpartisan agricultural and food law research and information to the nation’s agricultural community.
The NALC is a unit of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and works in close partnership with the USDA Agricultural Research Service, National Agricultural Library.
About the NASDA Foundation
The NASDA Foundation is the only educational and research organization that directly serves the nation’s state departments of agriculture. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The mission of the NASDA Foundation is to advance agriculture to shape a changing world.
For more information on the NASDA Foundation, visit nasda.org/nasda-foundation. The NASDA Foundation is also on X, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses.
Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
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Media contact:
Drew Viguet
Communications & Special Projects Coordinator
National Agricultural Law Center
dviguet@uark.edu