Johnny Klemme’s article in the NAEPC Journal of Estate & Tax Planning offers a framework and resources to help advisors guide families through complex farmland decisions.
LAFAYETTE, Indiana — Estate planning professionals working with farmland-owning families have a new resource to help clients navigate inheritance decisions, balance competing priorities and explore options for the future of their land.
“When Farmland Is the Fortune: A Framework for Advisors,” by Johnny Klemme, CAI, a farmland advisor, broker and auctioneer with Geswein Farm & Land, appears in the October 2026 issue of the NAEPC Journal of Estate & Tax Planning, published by the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils. The article provides a practical framework estate planners can use to structure conversations with clients about farmland ownership, family expectations and long-term financial goals.
Farmland presents unique estate planning challenges because it can represent a family’s largest asset, a source of retirement income, an operating business and a multigenerational legacy – all at once.
“When heirs have different expectations about ownership, management or inheritance, determining the next steps requires more than a financial valuation,” says Klemme.
The article introduces Klemme’s LAND VALUES framework, which is a values-first approach to helping families identify priorities, assess financial realities and consider their long-term goals. It also outlines a two-meeting process that advisors can use to clarify objectives, identify missing information, compare alternatives and establish next steps.
Rather than assuming a family has to keep or sell its land, the framework encourages consideration of a broader range of possibilities, including leasing, restructuring ownership, conservation, partial sales or an orderly sale. These options can help advisors guide clients through decisions that account for both financial needs and family priorities.
“Farmland decisions aren’t simply about maximizing a financial return,” notes Klemme. “They’re about understanding what the land means to the family, what each generation needs and what options can create the best outcome for both the land and the people connected to it.”
The framework also reinforces the importance of collaboration among estate planning attorneys, tax professionals, financial advisors and farmland specialists. By incorporating property-specific considerations into the planning process, advisors can help clients evaluate alternatives and make more informed decisions about inherited land.
For additional client education, Klemme’s book, “American Family Farmland: Preserving Values and Creating Wealth,” explores the financial and personal dimensions of farmland ownership and inheritance. The book and related online resources can help families begin conversations about their goals, priorities and options before making major decisions.
The article is available at NAEPCJournal.org. Estate planning professionals can find additional resources to share with clients at americanfamilyfarmland.com/farmland-support-for-professional-advisors.
About Johnny Klemme
Johnny Klemme, CAI, is a farmland advisor, broker, auctioneer and speaker, and a principal at Geswein Farm & Land. He is the author of American Family Farmland, which explores the financial, personal and family considerations surrounding farmland ownership and inheritance. He works with landowners, farmers, investors and their professional advisors on farmland sale, management and transition decisions.
About Geswein Farm & Land
Geswein Farm & Land is a farmland real estate, auction, appraisal and farm management company serving landowners, farm families, investors and professional advisors throughout Indiana, Illinois and Michigan. Since 1977, the company has focused on helping clients create more land value through professional guidance, trusted relationships and responsible stewardship.
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