Surprise! I’m coming back to the farm

Surprise! I’m coming back to the farm

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

After 40 years what matters most?

After 40 years what matters most?

When you figure that out and what you really want in your life, that will affect your intentional choices

The clouds at 30,000 feet are keeping me company as I write and reflect. My ears hear Celtic tunes of praise while I contemplate the lessons of the last four decades. November 10, 1978 marked the first day of my move to Boissevain to serve farm families with Manitoba Agriculture as an extension home economist. […] Read more


How did your father influence your beliefs and attitudes about your farm career?

The father factor in farming

How is Dad’s style of relating affecting your decision-making on the farm?

“Your father’s particular parenting style is the template that forms the father factor in your career… If your father has died, that doesn’t mean that the feelings from the relationship are dead.” — Dr. Stephan B. Poulter, author of The Father Factor: How Your Father’s Legacy Impacts Your Career Poulter believes that we learn from […] Read more

Discussions must be had so everyone is clear on the plan for transition of labour, management and ownership of the farm.

How do we tell our non-farming children they are not getting a raw deal?

Start by asking what fairness looks like as farm assets are transitioned


Our 33-year-old daughter was lamenting the fact that there is no longer a Sears Christmas Wish book. Decades ago she delighted in flipping pages of the coloured catalogue seeking out requests for her wish list, hoping that the cherished gifts would be under our Christmas tree. I remember the not-so-happy Christmas when some of the […] Read more


Farm dads and emotions of quitting farming

Farm dads and emotions of quitting farming

It’s my 22nd Father’s Day column and I will do my best to not make “Charlie from Saskatchewan” feel like I am beating up farm dads! A reader asked me to write about the emotions of quitting farming. Let’s take the approach of the farm culture attributes farm founders appreciate. What might it feel like […] Read more

Managing brothers who behave badly on the farm

Managing brothers who behave badly on the farm

“I can’t believe that we have farmed together for over 25 years, and the fights between these two brothers farming just don’t stop!” says the exasperated farm woman who has had enough. This winter may be a good time to reflect on how you want things to be different at your farm. I think Dr. […] Read more


Which shade of control is blocking your farm transition?

Which shade of control is blocking your farm transition?

One lawyer suggests there are four different types of control that need to transfer

Elaine, Dad just won’t give up control!” is a common frustration with the next generation trying to navigate into management and ownership. Ottawa-based lawyer Denis Sicotte presents an interesting concept; he calls it “shades of control,” meaning there are four different types of control that need to transfer: 1. Operational Control: The operations, daily decision-making, […] Read more

Farming’s In-Law Factor can be found at elainefroese.com/store/farmings-in-law-factor/.

Elaine Froese wants to keep families and farms healthy

Newest book takes on an issue not often dealt with – the in-laws

My concern is divorce. Within a few miles’ radius of our farm there are so many divorces. And these aren’t all young people. Some are 20- and 40-year marriages.” Elaine Froese is tired. She’s just come home from a speaking tour and is heading to the U.S. for another gig, but as she speaks, the […] Read more


Importance of taking time with friends and community

Importance of taking time with friends and community

Not only good for our well-being, they can also give perspective of what’s happening in our lives


The summer is slipping away quickly, yet I hope that you’ve carved out some time for visiting, camping and fishing. We all are busy farmers, but deep down there is a longing that I see for folks hoping to have a deeper sense of connection. This column is an excerpt from our book Farming’s In-Law […] Read more