Senior couple gazing out over farmland, late summer.

How to keep legacies fair for non-farming kids as land values soar

Parents worry their bequests will not be fair due to the appreciation in land prices

In southern Manitoba, a farming couple we’ll call Bob and Suzy (not their real names) are, at their respective ages of 82 and 80, approaching full retirement. They have one son who farms and two daughters who have city jobs. The children are in their 40s. Bob and Suzy are contemplating posterity and are eager […] Read more

Allocating land to the children is a matter of planning.

Parents of four adult children would like to retire

How to make fair provisions for all

A couple we’ll call Mike, 85, and Judy, 83, farm 1,200 acres in southern Manitoba not far from Brandon. Their farm has been reduced from its largest measurement, 2,500 acres. They have four sons. Two have their own farming operation of 2,000 acres each. A third son has a job off-farm. A fourth son we’ll […] Read more


The debt of the parents needs to be settled before the next generation can start charting their debt servicing and equity purchases as they learn how to manage and start to gain ownership in equipment, shares, land, or other farm assets.

Froese: Help! My parents have loads of debt we don’t want!

If your attitudes towards debt are very different from your parents, do you really want to be business partners with them?

Every front door looks beautiful” is one of my favourite Irish sayings. It came to mind in Deadwood, South Dakota, the Black Hills where I was listening to the woes of a young ranch couple. They have a strong desire to ranch as “debt free” as possible, but her parents, the owners are stuck on […] Read more

Four generations of the Cole family enjoying a harvest meal in the field at the family farm near Coronation, Alta.

New investment model provides capital for land acquisitions and farmland improvement

With investments from Area One Farms, an Alberta farmer expands his operation so his kids and their families can return home to farm

It was seven or so years ago that Kurt Cole realized he needed a bigger farm. Three of his five daughters and their families wanted to return home to farm with Cole, so the Alberta grain producer started searching for a way to raise $7 million — the price tag for some nearby land belonging […] Read more


The new term in 2022 for sweat equity is “delayed compensation.”

Froese: Really love the next generation with decent compensation

And remember — if you are going to use sweat equity you must predetermine the value

My farmer came in for lunch to warm up and was reluctant to head back outside feeling chilled. His labour is now being compensated by a buyout plan from our successor son. What’s keeping me on the hot side today is processing the coaching conversations where the next gen is working for “free,” that is, […] Read more

Froese: Can farm dad become mentor coach?

Froese: Can farm dad become mentor coach?

Try not to be a micromanager as you let go of your CEO role and transition to mentor

Dick Wittman, a longtime farm management consultant and farmer has transitioned from being the CEO of a 22,000-acre Idaho farm to being his daughter’s mentor coach. His session at Ag Excellence’s 2021 conference was “How to get out of the way without going away.” Google the session and invest 90 minutes towards having better transition […] Read more


Your attitude about conflict needs to be positive, knowing that positive conflict behaviours are going to help everyone get what they want.

Froese: Transition planning does not have to be tough

Transitioning management and ownership of a farm business is a journey that begins with taking that first step

Susan Forward, author of Emotional Blackmail gave me a key phrase for coaching that is life changing. She used the term, “Where is it written… (insert issue)? As a farm family coach who is currently in her third succession/transition journey, I would like to challenge you with, “Where is it written that transition planning has […] Read more

Froese: What’s possible when people are separating and don’t want to go to war

Froese: What’s possible when people are separating and don’t want to go to war

Couples who are amicable and consider the farm successors will have a different outcome than those who are bickering

The Great Pause continues to amplify cracks in the family dynamic which may lead to separation and divorce in farm families. In my coaching practice this year for the first time I am navigating transition planning at the same time the founders are leaving their marriage. I am also receiving calls for help from women […] Read more


This plan looks complex, but it really is just an apportionment of life insurance payouts, tax-free, to enable the farm to continue and to provide a way to reorganize the share capital of the farm.

A fair and efficient farm financial plan for all

A share structure provides a shift of ownership to one child who farms and a living income for the two who don’t

A grain farmer we’ll call Owen, 63, farms 1,000 acres of grain not far from the Manitoba-United States border. He has three children ages 35, 34 and 29. The eldest, Jack, wants to take over the farm. His two siblings, who we’ll call Max and John, have town jobs and have no wish to farm. […] Read more

If you want the farm to continue and keep the legacy going, then the farm succession process must begin while you are still alive, with a sound mind and body.

Succession plans: address the underlying issues

How to begin or become unstuck

Many articles have been written about farm succession or farm transition as it is more recently called. I think it’s time to look at some of the underlying reasons why this can be a difficult process. I base my comments on my work as a farm business and transition consultant for 17 years as well […] Read more