A sustainable farm...needs smart, talented individuals who are challenged by the farm and themselves. This is a final column of a 3-part series. Family farms often begin with the relentless determination and unwavering spirit of their founders. These pioneers weathered harsh conditions and cleared the land to establish their homesteads. The work was grueling, and the comforts were few. But the farm prospered as the family worked together. However, over time, certain pitfalls of complacency emerged. To sustain the family farm, the senior generation must answer two questions: Is the next generation committed to doing the hard things required...
Succession Planning
When Families Outgrow Farms
Maybe not everyone in the family can come back to the farm. Written for Farm Futures and initially published in the March/April 2025 issue. A sustainable family farm has three components: unity, assets, and people. Last month, we talked about family unity, but today, let's talk about assets. Particularly long-term growth of family assets. Family asset growth is one of the top three components of a sustainable family farm. Farming takes a lot of capital. It takes a lot of time to grow that capital and takes a lot of reinvestment into the farm. One of the important key elements...
Business Growth Strategy, Leadership
Do you have the right people on your farm?
The "right people" is a hard thing to measure and it's different for every farm. But here are some ideas. Written for MILK/DairyHerd and originally published 3/7/2025. It's the time when many businesses prepare for annual reviews. Some have sophisticated employee measurement metrics, but many do not. Whether you do or not, I'm guessing you want two basic things. The right people working in the business (the wrong ones somewhere else) and placing these "right people" in the "right spot." The "right people" is a hard thing to measure and it's different for every farm. But here are some ideas. Levels...
Business Growth Strategy, Succession Planning
Are you intentional with your farm business in these areas?
Unity, drive, talent, grit, asset growth and future planning are key areas to focus on to sustain the family business through the next generation. Written for Progressive Dairy and originally published March 13, 2025 here. I'm sure you have heard the adage that the third generation loses the farm. This is not unique to America, and this saying has existed in almost all cultures over hundreds of years. Sustainability is a buzzword we often hear, but what about the sustainability of the family farm? What does it take for a farm to sustain itself generation after generation? Why does it...
Communication, Leadership, Succession Planning
Family Unity
First of the 3 Elements needed for a Sustainable Family Business Written for Farm Futures and originally published at in their Jan/Feb 2025 issue. There is an adage. The first generation starts it, the second builds it and the third generation loses it. A variation of this saying is in almost all cultures, some going back several thousand years. Sustaining a family business is hard. Clients have told me it's harder than starting a family business. I believe it. When we initially ask a new client about their concerns about sustaining the family business, we often hear concerns about the...
Business Growth Strategy
The Secret Sauce of Successful Farms
Common characteristics among top-tier farms include having a shared vision and set of values, staying focused on goals, practicing accountability, avoiding procrastination, building trust within their team and effectively managing data to make management decisions. Written for Progressive Dairy and originally published 1/19/2025 in Issue 2. As I write this article, there are about 90 pounds of ribs on my barbecue, slow cooking to fall-off-the-bone juiciness. My barbecue technique, process and sauce have been tweaked many times over the years. Today, there are fewer tweaks, and the results are consistent. Sometimes, people ask me if I buy special ribs...
Business Growth Strategy
Time is valuable – Tips for doing what matters most
Do you get everything you want done in a day, a week, or a month? Written for Farm Futures and originally published in their Nov/Dec 2024 issue. As we work with our clients, we see recurring themes that are key for farms to accelerate their growth. Time management of the owners and key employees is a key differentiator for scaling farms up. Stephen Covey, author of the popular book, "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People," created a time matrix to sort tasks by importance and urgency. We have used his concepts in our coaching and can attest it's...
Succession Planning
Motivating the Next Generation to Step Up
Aside from preparing the next generation with the skill sets they need to be successful in managing the farm, increase the chances of them wanting to come back to the farm by creating work and life boundaries and aligning expectations to help family dynamics at work and home. Written for Progressive Dairy and originally published 11/4/2024 here. Dad and Mom want their son to return to the farm to continue the legacy. Junior and his new bride didn't seem that interested as they settled into building successful careers. It wasn't that Junior and Bride didn't like farming; they did. They...
Communication, Leadership
8 ways next-gen farmers can build respect
7 Tips to build credibility as the next generation of leaders Written for Farm Futures and originally published on 10/16/24 here. Sometimes, the next generation of family members or employees don't feel they can earn credibility with the old guard or senior generation. The following are some tips gleaned from some young ones in the younger generation who have broken through and earned credibility and respect. Transitioning a business from one generation to the next is not easy. One particularly difficult area is how to bring the next generation on board. The young next generation brings energy and...
Succession Planning, Uncategorized
Farm Dangers both physical and mental
Even Superman has his limits. Written for Farm Futures and originally published Oct. 2024. Farms are dangerous places, and most of us know of someone who was injured or killed in a farm accident. When accidents happen the farm community rallies around the family and provides support. Go to many farms today, and there you will see high-visibility clothing, training programs, and discussions on how to stay safe during pre-harvest employee meetings. Farming is dangerous, beyond equipment-related injuries and deaths. Farming kills and injures at the mental level as well, but we often don't want to acknowledge it. The...