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PORTLAND, Ore. - Oregon State University's College of Business Austin Family Business Program will hold a forum, "Ties to the Land: Keeping Family Forests and Farms in the Family," on Wednesday, Nov. 30, from 8 a.m. to noon at OSU's Food Innovation Center, 1207 N.W. Naito Parkway in Portland.

Few challenges faced by family forestland owners, farmers, wine-makers and other land-based family businesses are more important than the issue of passing the business and its supporting land base on to the next generation, Mark Green, director of the Austin Family Business Program, said.

Today, 95 percent of Oregon's small landowners are 65 or older, Green said. Many small landowners want to preserve their family lands but don't know how to involve family members in ownership and operation of their land-based businesses.

Attorneys and accountants can address technical aspects of inter-generational transition through mechanisms such as trusts and family corporations, but the real challenge for families may not be technical issues but communication, Green said. Without informed communication, personal relationships and emotions may prevent full and honest exploration of the options, and families may fail to meet the goal of passing the land on intact, he said.

The forum will explore the human side of estate planning, focusing on ways to maintain family ties to the land from one generation to the next. It also will build awareness of key challenges facing family businesses and motivate families to address them. Practical exercises will teach tools needed to address tough issues, and professional advisers will learn techniques to help families bridge communication gaps.

The forum features Clint Bentz, Salem accountant and family forest owner/manager, and Green. Panelists John Helmer and Neil Schroeder, both tree farm owners, will speak about their own experiences.

The event is partially funded by a grant from OSU's College of Forestry and Oregon Forest Resources. The forum fee is $35 for the first attendee and $10 for each additional family member. For information contact the Austin Family Business Program at 800-859-7609 or www.familybusinessonline.org.