2020 National Summer Ag Income Tax/Estate and Business Planning Seminar

Overview

Each summer for almost 15 years, I have conducted a national summer seminar at a choice location somewhere in the United States.  During some summers, there has been more than a single event.  But, with each event, the goal is to take agricultural tax, estate planning and business planning education and information out to practitioners in-person.  Over the years, I have met many practitioners that do a great job of representing agricultural producers and agribusinesses with difficult tax and estate/business/succession planning situations.  Because, ag tax and ag law is unique, the detailed work in preparing for those unique issues is always present.

The 2020 summer national ag tax and estate/business planning seminar – it’s the topic of today’s post.

Deadwood, South Dakota - July 20-21, 2020

Hold the date for the 2020 summer CLE/CPE seminar.  This coming summer’s event will be in Deadwood, South Dakota on July 20 and 21.  The event is sponsored by the Washburn University School of Law.  The Kansas State University Department of Agricultural Economics will be a co-sponsor.  The location is The Lodge at Deadwood.  The Lodge is relatively new, opening in 2009.  It is located just west of Deadwood on a bluff that overlooks the town.  You can learn more about The Lodge here: https://www.deadwoodlodge.com/hotel.  The Lodge has great conference facilities and also contains the Deadwood Grille featuring Western dining.  For families with children, The Lodge contains an indoor water playland.  There is also transportation from The Lodge to Main street in Deadwood where the shops and local attractions are located.  Deadwood is in the Black Hills area of western South Dakota.  Nearby is Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Custer State Park and Rapid City.  The closest flight connection is via Rapid City.  To the west is Devil’s Tower in Wyoming.  The Deadwood area is a beautiful area, and the weather in late July should be fabulous. 

Featured Speakers

On Day 1, July 20, joining me on the program will be Paul Neiffer.  Paul has been doing the summer seminars with me for several years now and is affiliated with CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP.  We enjoy working together to provide the best in ag tax education that you can find.  Also, confirmed as a Day 1 speaker is the honorable Judge Elizabeth Paris of the U.S. Tax Court.  She will provide an informative session on litigating a case before the U.S. Tax Court and the special rules and procedures of the court.  Judge Paris has decided several important ag cases during her tenure on the court, and is a great speaker.  You won’t want to miss her session.

I will lead off Day 2 with coverage of the most recent ag-related cases and rulings impacted farm and ranch estate and business planning.  Also joining me on Day 2 will be Prof. Jeffrey Jackson, a colleague of mine at Washburn University School of Law.  He will present a session on gun trusts for holding firearms and the unique issues that passing firearms at death can present.  Prof. Jackson will discuss what a gun trust is and how it works, what it cannot do, and client counseling with respect to passage of firearms by gift or at death.

Also making a presentation on Day 2 will be Marc Vianello.  Marc is a CPA and the managing member of Vianello Forensic Consulting, LLC.  He is an experienced financial professional with and intensive 30-year history as a forensic accountant and expert witness regarding damages in highly complex litigation, including breach of contract, intellectual property (patent, Lanham, trade secret, copyright), business valuation, franchise, agriculture, Qui Tam and class action, personal injury, employment, casualties, financial crimes, and all other types of income and valuation damages. Marc also has an extensive background regarding the computation of estate and gift tax discounts for lack of marketability.  Marc’s presentation will focus on how practitioners can utilize forensic accounting techniques and expert testimony to bolster a client’s position against the IRS on audit as well as in court.

The Day 1 and Day 2 speakers and agenda aren’t fully completed yet, but the ones mentioned above are confirmed.  An ethics session may also be added.    

Webcast

The two-day event will be broadcast live over the web.  The webcast will be handled by Glen McBeth, Instructional Technology at the Washburn Law School Law Library.  Glen has broadcast the last few summer seminars and does a tremendous job producing a high-quality webcast. 

Room Block

A room block at The Lodge will be established and you will be able to reserve your room as soon as the seminar brochure is finalized and registration is opened.  The room block will begin the weekend before the seminar begins so that you can arrive early and enjoy the weekend in Deadwood and the Black Hills area prior to the event if you’d like. 

Alumni Event

Washburn’s law school will also be holding an alumni event at The Lodge that corresponds with the summer seminar.  Presently, the plan is to have a social event for law school alumni and registrants of the summer seminar on Sunday evening, July 19.  That event will be followed the next day with a CLE seminar focusing on law and technology.  That CLE event will also be at The Lodge and will run simultaneously with Day 1 of the two-day summer seminar on July 20.  The summer seminar will continue on July 21.

Sponsorship

If your business is interested in sponsoring a breakfast, break or lunch, and having vending space at the conference, please let me know.  It’s a great event to interact with practitioners that represent the legal and tax needs of farmers and ranchers from across the country that are involved in many aspects of agriculture.

Conclusion

Please hold the date for the July 20-21 conference and, for law school alumni (as well as registrants for the two-day event), the additional alumni reception and associated CLE event.  It looks to be an outstanding opportunity for specialized training in ag tax and estate/business planning.