“Map of My Kingdom” play focuses on land transition

“Map of My Kingdom,” a play commissioned by Practical Farmers of Iowa and written by Iowa’s Mary Swander, tackles the critical issue of land transition. Hosted by ISU Extension and Outreach, the play will premiere Wednesday, September 2 at 7:30 p.m. at Chase the Adventure, 1838 Middle Calmar Road, Decorah.
In the drama, Angela Martin, a lawyer and mediator in land transition disputes, shares stories of how farmers and landowners she has worked with over the years approached their land successions. Some families almost came to blows, struggling to resolve the sale or transfer of their land, dissolving relationships. Others found peacefully rational solutions that focused not only on the viability of the family, but also of the land.
Land is the thread that binds all of the stories together. “For most farmers I know, owning land means everything,” Angela Martin said.
“Map of My Kingdom” will resonate with those who have been through or are working through challenging land transfer issues that include division of the land among siblings, to selling out to a neighbor, to attempts to preserve the land’s integrity against urban sprawl. The drama will inspire the hesitant and the fearful to start the conversation that cannot wait.
Today, a vast amount of land in the United States is owned by those over 65 years old. Some have made their wishes clear for the future of their property. Others are courting family upheaval by not planning in concrete ways. An age old problem, evident in literature from the Bible to King Lear to Willa Cather, land transition asks hard questions: Who really owns the land? And what is the role of the steward of a property? Can “fair” become “unfair” to one’s children?
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Meet Melissa O’Rourke, NE Iowa Farm and Agribusiness Management Specialist for Iowa State Extension and Outreach. A discussion facilitated by O’Rourke will follow the performance. The performance is free and open to the public. Contact Winneshiek County Extension and Outreach with questions at 563-382-2949.