Farmer's Yards: Promoting Later-Life Wellbeing and Farm Transition Through Transatlantic Collaboration

A transatlantic partnership has seen a groundbreaking social initiative for the older generation of the farming community, Farmer’s Yards, expand from Ireland to the United States. Initiated and developed by Dr. Shane Conway at the University of Galway’s Rural Studies Centre in Ireland and adopted by Darlene Livingston of Pennsylvania Farm Link, Farmer’s Yards is helping older farmers across both countries navigate the emotional and practical complexities of farm succession by providing safe, trusted spaces for peer-to-peer connection, knowledge exchange and purpose in later life. This initiative’s international adaptation has been facilitated through the collaborative efforts of Dr. Conway and Darlene, both active members of the International Farm Transition Network (IFTN), which brings together service providers such as accountants, legal advisors, ag lenders, farm managers, and educators to support farm businesses in successfully transitioning to the next generation. Their shared commitment to bridging the human and operational sides of farm transition has made Farmer’s Yards a timely and globally relevant model.