Webinar Recordings

REFA Solar Farm Virtual Tour

How can solar development help keep family farmland in the family while creating new agricultural opportunities?

Join us for a virtual tour of Lazy D Farm in Ennis, Texas. Meredith DeBorde will walk her property and share her experience as a landowner who leased land for utility-scale solar development.

When a proposed high-speed rail project threatened their land, the DeBorde family chose a different path. Today, sheep graze across more than 800 acres alongside solar panels, and the family has found a way to preserve their operation while diversifying their income.

Do not miss this opportunity to hear directly from a Texas landowner about how her family is using agrivoltaics to preserve their land, diversify their operation and build a more resilient future for the next generation.

Cattle Grazing with Solar (Agrivoltaics)

A farmer-to-farmer look at integrating livestock grazing with solar installations. Josh Bennett and Dr. Bradley Heins share real-world experience with cattle grazing under and around panels, covering practical logistics, vegetation management benefits, lease provisions that enable dual use, and honest lessons learned from combining agriculture with energy production.

REFA Wind Ranch Virtual Tour

What does it really look like to host wind energy on your land for nearly 20 years?

Join REFA for a special Virtual Farm Tour with Kansas rancher Pete Ferrell, who helped bring one of the country’s early wind projects to life on his family’s ranch.

Pete is a fourth-generation rancher from Beaumont, Kansas, and the initiator and primary landholding member behind the Elk River Wind Farm, built on the Ferrell Ranch in 2005 and still operating today. Over the past two decades, Pete has seen firsthand how wind energy development can intersect with working agricultural land.

During this virtual tour, Pete will share the real story behind the project – from the early conversations with developers to what it’s been like hosting turbines on a working ranch for nearly 20 years. He’ll discuss lessons learned, what landowners should think about before signing a lease, and how renewable energy can become part of a long-term farm or ranch operation.

Whether you’re exploring renewable energy on your land or already hosting a project, this is a rare opportunity to hear directly from a landowner who helped pioneer wind energy on working agricultural land.

Don’t miss this inside look at what it takes to bring wind energy to a family ranch – and what two decades of experience can teach today’s landowners.

Preparing for Renewable Energy Leases: What Every Landowner Should Know

A comprehensive session preparing landowners for lease negotiations with an agricultural attorney’s perspective. Covers the critical provisions landowners should examine before signing any renewable energy lease, including payment terms, land use restrictions, assignment clauses, decommissioning requirements, and the often-overlooked details that can make or break a 25-40 year agreement. Brianna brings expertise in what to look out for from a legal standpoint, helping landowners understand their rights and protections.

Presenters:
Brianna Schroeder, Agricultural Attorney (Indiana)
Lisa Dan, Midwest Outreach Director – Center for Energy Education
Jeff Risley, Executive Director – REFA

Community Solar 101

Community solar and distributed generation projects are growing rapidly across the country, offering landowners a different type of opportunity than utility-scale development. This webinar explains how community solar works, who benefits, and what landowners should know if they’re approached for a project. We’ll cover the policy landscape state by state, typical project sizes and acreage requirements, lease terms and timelines, and how these smaller-scale projects can integrate with agricultural operations through agrivoltaics. Whether you’re in a state with established community solar programs or wondering what distributed generation could mean for your land, this session provides the foundation you need to evaluate opportunities and ask the right questions.

Presenters:
Angie Burke, Director of Land Stewardship – Pivot Energy
Tyler Lis, Policy Manager – Western Region – Pivot Energy
Jeff Risley, Executive Director – REFA

Voice of the Landowner: Navigating Community Relations and Local Government

This session addresses both community dynamics and local government engagement when considering renewable energy projects. Landowners are often absent from local meetings, yet their voices are powerful—elected officials need to hear directly from those hosting projects. This session features landowners who have spoken publicly about their experiences, offering practical strategies for: having productive conversations with neighbors, addressing concerns honestly, maintaining relationships regardless of differing opinions, understanding the permitting process, engaging with zoning boards and county commissioners, and advocating for property rights at public hearings.

Presenters: Pete Ferrell, Kansas Landowner & REFA Board Member
Scott Fritz, Indiana Landowner
Lisa Dan, Midwest Outreach Director – Center for Energy Education
Jeff Risley, Executive Director – REFA

Renewable Energy on the Farm: Industry Basics, Understanding the Leasing Process and Industry Timelines

This introductory session is perfect for farmers and ranchers curious about renewable energy opportunities on their land. Robert Veldman from Pinion will break down the fundamentals of wind and solar possible development, explaining how these projects may be built, and the project timeline process. You’ll gain an overview of Industry developer options and categories that will provide some clarity on possible opportunities with these developers.

Presenters: Robert Veldman (Senior Land Management Advisor), Pinion

Navigating and Negotiating Renewable Energy Leases

Designed for landowners considering or already in discussions with renewable energy developers, this session will help you understand what should be in a typical lease agreement and what terms matter most. Robert Veldman will walk through common lease provisions, land value protection language, payment structures, and key clauses you should look for, while Quint Shambaugh will address how these agreements can impact your drainage and irrigation management as well as current and future farming operations. Attendees will learn how to evaluate lease offers and understand their rights, land protections, and responsibilities as potential hosts.

Presenters: Quint Shambaugh (Principal) and Robert Veldman (Senior Land Management Advisor), Pinion

Industry Update: What is the Status of Renewable Energy Development

This timely session provides farmers and ranchers with a current snapshot of where the renewable energy industry stands and what trends are shaping future development. You’ll learn about new technologies, policy changes affecting rural communities, and market conditions that could impact opportunities in your area. This overview will help you make informed decisions about timing and positioning your property in the evolving renewable energy marketplace.

Presenters: Quint Shambaugh (Principal), Pinion

Estate Planning

Join CPA Jim Rein from Pinion to explore how renewable energy lease income can impact your family’s estate and succession planning strategies. This session is essential for farm families considering multi-generational land ownership and those wanting to understand how long-term lease payments affect tax planning, inheritance, and wealth transfer. You’ll discover planning opportunities and potential pitfalls when renewable energy becomes part of your family’s financial legacy.

Presenters: Jim Rein (CPA and Principal) and Chris Pfannenstiel (Principal) from Pinion.