Webinar
Farm Bankruptcy Essentials: Knowing Your Rights and Options
This webinar is hosted in partnership with the Southern Risk Management Education Center
About this webinar
Financial challenges can arise at any stage of an agricultural operation, making it essential for producers to understand the options available to protect their businesses and livelihoods. Join Native Agriculture Financial Services (NAFS) for Farm Bankruptcy Essentials: Knowing Your Rights and Options, an educational webinar designed to provide an overview of bankruptcy as a financial management tool for agricultural producers. Participants will learn about the purpose of farm bankruptcy, the circumstances in which it may be considered, and the legal rights and protections available to borrowers experiencing financial distress. The session will also discuss common types of agricultural debt, strategies for communicating with creditors and lenders, available borrower protections, and resources that can help producers evaluate their options before making critical financial decisions. Whether you are experiencing financial challenges, assisting a family operation with succession planning, or simply seeking to better understand your rights, this webinar will provide practical information to help you navigate difficult financial situations with greater confidence and make informed decisions about the future of your operation.
Ridge Howell, JD
Legal Counsel
Ridge Howell, JD, is a citizen of the Muscoee (Creek) Nation and currently serves as Legal Counsel of NAFS. Prior to joining NAFS, Ridge served as Counsel to the Intertribal Agriculture Council (IAC). While at IAC, he helped coordinate outreach and technical assistance to Native producers eligible to apply for the USDA’s Discrimination Financial Assistance Program (DFAP), a program that Congress authorized in Section 22007 of the Inflation Reduction Act for the purpose of providing financial assistance to ranchers, farmers, and forest landowners determined to have experienced discrimination in USDA lending programs. During his tenure at IAC, Ridge also oversaw in-house legal matters, educated policymakers on issue areas determined by the IAC Board of Directors, and collaborated with industry partners on various policy briefings related to tribal agriculture.
Before entering the non-profit sector, Ridge worked as an Associate Attorney for Pipestem Law, P.C., a private practice law firm specializing in representation of tribal governments, tribal enterprises, and Native organizations with an emphasis on litigation in tribal, state, and federal courts. Ridge joined Pipestem Law following his graduation from the University of Oklahoma College of Law. While in law school, Howell co-founded the Agriculture Law Association, served as the Editor-in-Chief of the American Indian Law Review, and as the Vice-President of the Native American Law Student Association. In addition to scholarships and honors received during his academic career, Ridge was recognized by the Obama White House as a Champion of Change.
Ridge maintains his herd of cattle in Checotah, Oklahoma, a few miles south of where he grew up helping his family operate a commercial cattle ranch.
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