A team of Nebraska Extension researchers has received national recognition for a new study about the impacts of divorce on Nebraska’s farm and ranch families, and the effectiveness of the resources available to professionals.
The study “Survey of Nebraska Farm and Ranch Divorce Cases” was led by Linda Reddish, an Extension educator in early childhood and family development, and Jessica Groskopf, an Extension educator in agricultural economics and director of the Nebraska Women in Agriculture program. Their work was recognized as the second-place national winner and first-place central region winner of the 2025 Program Excellence Through Research Award from the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (NEAFCS).
The study assessed how well professionals are equipped to support farm and ranch families during divorces. Through a statewide survey of attorneys and mediators, and with the support of the Nebraska Office of Dispute Resolution, the research explored the parenting issues of child custody, parenting time and decision-making within farm and ranch divorces.
With agriculture deeply tied to identity, legacy and financial livelihood, divorce in farm families often brings a distinct set of complications, Reddish said. The research revealed that many of the professionals who guide families through these cases lack access to targeted resources that reflect the complexity of farm and ranch operations.
“We wanted to understand whether the professionals helping farm families through divorce have the tools they need to navigate the unique challenges tied to agricultural operations,” said Reddish. “This research is helping us respond to the gaps we found in awareness and availability of resources by building better training and outreach for both professionals and families involved in divorce.”
Attorneys and mediators who responded to the survey identified recurring legal concerns such as farm valuation, tax implications and continuity of operations, as well as emotional stressors rooted in family conflict and connection to the land. Factors contributing to divorce frequently included financial strain and poor communication.
The study revealed that more than 90% of respondents had not used the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Family Law Issues in Agriculture fact sheet series, suggesting a broader lack of awareness of existing tools. The findings directly informed a successful grant proposal to fund new resources and programming.
As a result, Nebraska Extension is now exploring ways to inform training programs for mediators and service providers who work with farm and ranch families. Updates to the university’s co-parenting education courses are also underway to more effectively serve agricultural households.
“By identifying where existing resources fall short, this research is allowing Nebraska Extension to step in and provide the kind of tailored support that Nebraska’s rural professionals and the families they serve really need,” said Groskopf.
The research benefited from review and input by Extension faculty across disciplines and was supported through data analysis by the Methodology and Evaluation Research Core Facility at Nebraska.
“We were excited to hear about the recognition this work has received as it is great to see the fruits of our collaboration be acknowledged,” said Jennifer Rutt, Associate Director of the Methodology and Evaluation Research Core Facility. “MERC staff are honored to be included in these awards and want to share our congratulations to the Extension team. We understand the need for this novel work and were happy to be able to partner and share our expertise on this assessment.”
The team plans to expand the survey regionally and nationally to broaden its impact before publishing results.
The NEAFCS educates and recognizes extension professionals who improve the quality of life for individuals, families and communities. The NEAFCS Program Excellence Through Research Award recognizes the use of research results to improve existing programs or develop new programs. Details about the organization are available at https://neafcs.org.
More information about Nebraska Extension’s work in rural family development through the Co-Parenting for Successful Kids program is available at https://child.unl.edu.
The Nebraska Women in Agriculture program’s website is https://wia.unl.edu.
