Inheritance Patterns and Strategies: Process for Intergenerational Farmland Transfer in Southeastern North Dakota

Abstract

In this project, I conducted interviews with members of farm families in order to understand the process of intergenerational farmland transfer. Focusing on southeastern North Dakota, I paid particular attention to the youngest generations’ intentions in this process. Two of the primary themes that emerged related to the youngest generations’ desire for security and stability into the future and the gendered expectations that arose throughout the parent generation and the youngest generation interviews. There was a common sentiment that the family farmland was an unsafe occupation to pursue in the modern economy, making the desire for security and stability a core theme. This factored into the youngest generations’ decision of whether or not to farm the land. In addition, a second key theme of gendered expectations emerged as the parent generation and the youngest generations made decisions about who would take over the family farm.