Genealogy enthusiasts across the American Midwest will have a unique opportunity to connect with the creators of Family Tree Maker, with the company announcing a six-stop tour through the region in June 2026. The series of free events will provide users with an in-depth look at the popular family history software, which has been a mainstay for researchers for over 35 years.
The tour will be led by Family Tree Maker’s Executive Director, Duff Wilson, and Genealogy Community Ambassador, Mark Olsen. They will be joined by special guest Tana Pedersen, an author known for her comprehensive guidebooks on the software. The team will visit communities in Nebraska, Iowa, and Wisconsin, partnering with local genealogical societies to host interactive presentations for the public.
For many New Zealanders, tracing family roots leads overseas, often to the United States. The digitisation of records and sophisticated software like Family Tree Maker have become indispensable tools in this global search. Events like the Midwest tour, while geographically distant, are of significant interest to dedicated Kiwi genealogists who rely on these platforms to uncover and organise their ancestral stories. Understanding the latest software features can be crucial for breaking through research barriers and connecting with relatives across the world.
A deep dive into the tour schedule
The tour will kick off on 15 June 2026, in Lincoln, Nebraska, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints FamilySearch Center. The event is sponsored by the Lincoln-Lancaster County Genealogical Society, the Greater Omaha Genealogical Society, and the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia.
From there, the team travels to Des Moines, Iowa, for a presentation on 16 June at the Iowa Genealogical Society Conference Center. The following day, 17 June, they will be in Madison, Wisconsin, hosted by the Dane County Area Genealogical Society at another FamilySearch Center.
The Wisconsin leg of the tour continues with three more stops. On 18 June, an event will be held in Grafton, sponsored by the Cedarburg Public Library. On 19 June, the tour moves to Green Bay, where a consortium of local groups including the Bay Area Genealogical Society and Brown County Library will host a session. The tour concludes on 20 June in Eau Claire, at the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library, with several local societies co-sponsoring the finale.
All events are free and open to the general public, though the organisers require attendees to register in advance to secure a place.
Insider features and expert guidance
Attendees will get a comprehensive look at the latest version of the software, FTM 2024. The presentations will cover exclusive features and provide insider tips for users of all experience levels. Among the highlights is TreeVault®, a cloud service that backs up tree data every fifteen seconds and connects to a suite of mobile apps.
A significant focus will be on the new Connect Workspace in FTM 2024, a feature designed to make it easier for users to collaborate with relatives on their research. Another long-requested feature being showcased is Easy on the Eyes®, which allows users to enlarge specific sections of the screen for better readability. The team will also discuss improvements in managing relationships and tools for cleaning up unlinked media and citations.
The greatly expanded FTM Connect 2.0 mobile app will also be a key topic. Presenters will show how relatives can use the app to fact-check a family tree, and how researchers can use a tablet as a seamless second screen with their desktop software. This functionality allows users to take their trees with them on visits to relatives and sync any new information.
Author Tana Pedersen will share insights from her publications, including the Companion Guide and Little Book of Answers, offering practical solutions for common user questions. Each event will conclude with a question and answer session, and time will be set aside for hands-on help, giving attendees a chance to get personalised support and suggest features for future editions.
Connecting with the global genealogy community
The Midwest tour is part of a broader international outreach effort by Family Tree Maker in 2026, reflecting the global nature of family history research. This busy schedule highlights the growing interest in genealogy, a hobby that often connects people across continents. Exploring family heritage has become a significant pastime for many, much like enjoying local events and lifestyle opportunities as seen on the North Shore.
Just before the US events, the team will be in the United Kingdom for a week-long tour of Southern England and Wales from 14-20 April. Following that, they are scheduled to be major sponsors and presenters at several key conferences in the United States. These include the Ohio Genealogical Society’s annual conference in late April, the Daughters of the American Revolution Genealogy Research Institute in Washington, DC, in early May, and the National Genealogical Society 2026 Family History Conference in Fort Wayne, Indiana, at the end of May.
This extensive schedule reinforces the company’s central role in the global genealogy ecosystem. For researchers in Christchurch, it underscores the vibrancy of an international community built around shared passions for history and heritage. Keeping abreast of the leading tools is vital, whether a user is tracing their lineage to early Canterbury settlers or to ancestors who settled the American plains.
The rise of ancestral research
Software like Family Tree Maker provides the essential framework for this work, allowing users to build detailed family trees, attach historical documents, photographs, and notes, and generate reports. The educational tours offered by the company provide a valuable service, helping users maximise the potential of these powerful features and, in turn, get more from their research journey.
The tour’s conclusion is scheduled for 20 June at the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM. Those interested in attending any of the free events can find registration links on the Family Tree Maker website.
