Abilene, KS, October 5, 2026 – For generations, farmland has shaped Dickinson County, supporting families, strengthening the local economy and helping define the communities that call the county home. Now, the Community Foundation of Dickinson County is introducing SOLIDGROUND®, a new charitable giving initiative designed to help landowners consider how their land can continue making an impact for generations to come.

     SOLIDGROUND® provides several avenues for landowners to begin that conversation. Depending on individual circumstances and goals, options may include making an outright gift of qualifying farmland, making a gift while retaining use and income from the property through a life-estate arrangement, or beginning the process of planning a future charitable gift. The Foundation works with landowners and their professional advisors throughout the process. Each proposed real-estate gift is reviewed individually, and landowners are encouraged to involve their attorney, accountant, tax advisor or other professional advisors when considering a gift.

     To introduce SOLIDGROUND®, the Community Foundation will host a program launch on Tuesday, November 17, 2026, from 6:00 to 8:30 PM, at Sterl Hall in Abilene. The evening will feature Roger McEowen, Professor of Agricultural Law and Taxation at Washburn University School of Law in Topeka. McEowen will share insight related to agricultural law, tax planning, and considerations surrounding agricultural legacy. Attendees will receive a variety of materials, and a catered meal will be provided.  RSVP through our registration page: SOLIDGROUND EVENT PAGE | Community Foundation for Dickinson County

     The event is intended to give landowners, farm families and others interested in the future of Dickinson County agriculture an opportunity to learn, ask questions and explore the possibilities available to them. “We want to start a conversation. If people leave with a better understanding of their options and some good questions to take home to their families and advisors, that's a successful evening,” said Elizabeth Weese, Executive Director of the Community Foundation of Dickinson County. “Every farm and every family have a different story, and decisions about the future of the land are deeply personal. SOLIDGROUND® creates an option for landowners and helps them understand what may be possible when their agricultural legacy and charitable goals come together.”