RD & S Farm-Mississippi

Protecting a Legacy at RD & S Farm

For more than 100 years, RD & S Farm in Mississippi has been guided by a commitment to stewardship, tradition, and family. Today, Felicia Bell is carrying that legacy forward while taking important steps to ensure it remains intact for future generations.

As a full-time farmer, Felicia manages 55 acres of chemical-free livestock, vegetable, fruit, and specialty crop production on land passed down through her family. Maintaining those long-held practices has required dedication and perseverance, but preserving the farm's future has become just as important as managing its daily operations.

Recognizing the importance of planning ahead, Felicia applied for support through American Farmland Trust's Brighter Future Fund to create a comprehensive estate and succession plan for her children and grandchildren. While succession planning is critical to keeping farmland in agriculture, the cost of legal services can be a significant barrier for many farm families.

With assistance from the Brighter Future Fund, Felicia worked with an estate attorney to develop the legal documents needed to transfer the farm smoothly and responsibly to future generations. The process included interviews, detailed family and asset reviews, multiple rounds of document preparation, and final estate and succession planning documents tailored to her family's needs.

The process took time, especially given the size of her family, but the result is a completed estate plan that provides clarity and security for the farm's future.

"With this funding, all legal documents required are fully completed for this agricultural land to be in our family for many years," Felicia says.

For Felicia, the impact extends beyond legal paperwork. The completed succession plan helps protect a century-old farming tradition, preserves productive farmland, and creates a clear pathway for future generations to continue the family's commitment to chemical-free agriculture.

Thanks to the Brighter Future Fund, RD & S Farm is better positioned to remain a source of food, knowledge, and stewardship for generations to come. By investing in succession planning today, Felicia is helping ensure that her family's agricultural legacy continues well into the future.