This is very difficult for a spouse who sees decline and the partner won’t accept their loss of abilities
BDO’s Maggie Van Camp, leader of agricultural development, sees the key foreboding issue for agriculture as farm succession. She asks, “Who is going to farm in future generations… and how the heck are we going to transfer the management and ownership of those farms? Never before have the older generation lived this long; Never before […] Read more
How are you doing? Are you making good choices to manage your energy?
Work/life balance” comes up for many young farmers, but it’s time to change our language to “choices we make to manage time” and take action. “We freak about not having time when what we really don’t have is energy!” says Marjorie Ingall. Kirstin Van Ogtrop says “Balance is less about circumstance and more about perspective. […] Read more
What do you really want to do? How will you spend your time?
A weather-worn farmer has recently transferred a major part of the farm business to his millennial successor. He asks his spouse, “What are we going to do for the next 20 years?” She reflects with a hint of surprise in her voice, “What do you really want?” The Wall Street Journal published how retirees are […] Read more
One of the bulls in the middle of the farmhouse that we need to chase after is the undiscussabull of “my brother would never agree to that.” These transition conversations are as fresh as a newly minted cow plop, and they stink, too. “Elaine, my dad is great to work with, but he won’t stand […] Read more
Find out what’s causing fear of transparency and learn how to talk openly about money
One of the key definitions for fairness I use is “Fairness is helping everyone be successful.” The “F” in FAIR, stands for financial transparency. What does this mean to young farmers hoping to take over the management of the farm? It means everything! Last night our family had an impromptu meal at the successor’s home. […] Read more
Be aware of how you’re reacting to the farm team when under pressure
Getting machines ready for seeding launches farmers out of bed in anticipation of a new season. “How are you calibrating yourself for seeding stresses?” As we age, are we open to change behaviours and do a “reset of our default habits” to create a more positive culture on our farm team? Peter Drucker said “culture […] Read more
If you can understand the farm team’s thoughts and emotions you’ll have greater success figuring out issues and creating solutions
I am a big fan of Brene Brown’s work and encourage you to check out her insights. Recently I surveyed her newest book Dare To Lead (Random House 2018). When I read books I write notes at the back and then translate ideas gleaned for working with farm family communication. Brown is working to create […] Read more
What you say can affect people more than anything else you do
When I ask a farm family what their main desire for coaching is, the typical reply is “Better communication.” Reading Proverbs daily gives me reminders that what we say probably affects more people than any other action we take. Proverbs describes four common speech patterns: 1. Controlled tongue. 2. Caring tongue. 3. Conniving tongue. 4. […] Read more
What do you do when an adult son or daughter who has been away for years decides to return and farm with you?
“Elaine, we are not sure what to do, our son who never had time for the farm has just informed us that he is planning to come back to farm with us. Problem is, his brother who has farmed with us for 11 years is not happy about this.” As a farm family coach I […] Read more
As land values increase pressure may be put on to sell
There are some columns I wish I did not have to write. This is one of them. Through the past few years of land values jumping as much as 23 per cent in one year it is no surprise to farm families to see their balance sheets with larger numbers. It is shocking to those […] Read more
