DES MOINES, IA, March 2026. Rena Striegel and Transition Point Business Advisors have introduced a new online farm succession training program designed to help agricultural families begin planning for an ownership and leadership transition.
The new program reflects a shift in how Striegel is choosing to reach farm families. After years of working directly with agricultural operations, she recognized that many families understand the importance of succession planning but remain unsure where to begin.
Making Complex Conversations More Accessible
In her work, Striegel has met families at very different stages of readiness. Some are actively planning a transition. Others know the conversation needs to happen, but have not taken the first step.
For many, the challenge is not a lack of care. It is uncertainty.
“I’ve met so many families who know they need to start, but they just don’t know how, and that uncertainty can keep them stuck for years,” Striegel said.
The online training program is designed to lower that barrier. It provides a structured starting point for families who may not yet be ready for in-person facilitation but want to begin thinking through the key issues that shape a transition.
Addressing Isolation in Decision Making
Striegel has also observed that many farm owners feel isolated when it comes to succession decisions. Unlike other business sectors, agricultural families often navigate these choices within a close circle, with limited access to guidance they trust.
That isolation can make it difficult to know how to approach conversations about leadership, ownership, and the future of the operation. Questions remain unanswered. Decisions are delayed.
By offering an online format, Transition Point Business Advisors is enabling families to access guidance in a more flexible, private setting. Participants can move through the material at their own pace while gaining practical insights drawn from real-world experience.
Meeting Families Where They Are
A central part of Striegel’s approach is meeting families where they are, rather than where they feel they should be. Some families are ready to make decisions. Others are still working to understand the options available to them.
The online program reflects that range. It offers tools, prompts, and structured guidance that help families begin the conversation without pressure.
Striegel believes that starting the process, even in small steps, can create momentum. Once families begin discussing expectations and possibilities, the path forward often becomes clearer.
Supporting the Future of Family Farms
As generational change continues across agriculture, more families are facing decisions about leadership and ownership. Striegel believes that making succession planning more accessible can help reduce delays and improve outcomes over time.
The goal of the online training program is not to replace deeper planning work, but to provide an entry point. By giving families a place to begin, Transition Point Business Advisors hopes to support more agricultural operations as they prepare for the future.
More information about the online farm succession training program is available at https://transitionpointba.com. Rena Striegel also shares insights and resources through LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.
About Rena Striegel
Rena Striegel is the President of Transition Point Business Advisors and a leading voice in agricultural and family business succession planning. For more than two decades, she has worked with farm families across the United States, helping them navigate the challenges of leadership transition, ownership decisions, and long-term planning.
Striegel grew up on a dairy farm in What Cheer, Iowa, where she developed a firsthand understanding of the responsibilities and realities of family agriculture. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from Central College in Pella, Iowa, and later completed her MBA at the University of Iowa. Her early career included roles in financial services, where she advised clients on business and financial strategy.
Over time, she shifted her focus toward succession planning in agriculture, where she saw a need for guidance that goes beyond technical solutions. She is the creator of The DIRTT Project, a system designed to help families work through complex decisions with clarity and structure. She also hosts the Ag Inspo podcast, where she shares insights on leadership and transition.
Her work continues to center on helping families protect both their operations and the relationships that sustain them.
About Transition Point Business Advisors
Transition Point Business Advisors specializes in succession planning for agricultural and family-owned businesses. The firm provides structured facilitation, communication alignment, and leadership readiness support to guide families through ownership transitions with clarity, confidence, and continuity.
