On Friday, June 10, 2016 the one-act play, “Map of My Kingdom” will be presented at no charge from 7-9 p.m. at the Gary Dickinson Performing Arts Center, Chillicothe High School, 2801 Hornet Drive, Chillicothe. The play was commissioned by Practical Farmers of Iowa to tell the story of the emotional challenges that farmers face with farm ownership transition.
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The one-hour play will be followed by a panel discussion forum with extension specialists, attorneys, and economic stakeholders who can answer questions about resources and courses to help with farmland ownership transitions.
Farming and economic trends reveal that farm succession planning provides benefits for regional and community vitality as well as individuals. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), 10% of farmland in the United States, 91.5 million acres, will change hands in the next five years. This does not include the 57.1 million acres that landowners have put into wills or trusts.
According to a 2013 USDA study, “Wealth in Missouri and Its Counties,” absentee farmland ownership and wealth transfer are obstacles to preserving prosperous agricultural communities. By increasing the amount of farmland in estate plans, Missouri can reduce absentee ownership and transfer of accumulated wealth outside of the state.
The play has been performed to critical acclaim in Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Idaho, Wisconsin, and now for the first time…Missouri.