Executive Farmer Network

Surround yourself with Success

Our Executive Farmer Network provides you the opportunity to surround yourself with other successful operations. It’s not easy managing a successful operation. Farming at this level is intense. You have aspirations for growth and improvement. Let us help you to get the counsel, support and camaraderie you’re missing to help solve those strategic management issues.

JOIN A PEER GROUP

AND TAKE YOUR FARM TO THE NEXT LEVEL

FOCUS ON YOUR BUSINESS

"I continue to be amazed at the similar issues all of our operations face/struggle with. Whether it is orchard farming in Canada or no-till farming in Kansas or crop farming in northern Minnesota, we are all dealing with similar issues. I would also use the analogy that iron shapes iron. It is refreshing to be with like-minded producers who have similar goals of making their business better each and every day they go to work." ~ Eric

GET HIGH IMPACT ACTION ITEMS FROM EVERY MEETING

"Through our involvement with the EFN we have definitely made changes on the farm, starting with a more formal business structure. Identifying what we need to work on as a first step and using EFN as a tool to bring those issues forward and solve them. Our interaction with the peer group and Tim is really beneficial." ~ Brett

MAKE BETTER DECISIONS

"Your decision making is so much better. You walk into the room here and you are talking to one person, that's great. You learn something. You talk to 10 people: what they learned, what they tried, ask the right question at the right time. It's a much more powerful situation." ~ Chris

IMPROVE PROFITS WITH INCREASED EFFICIENCY

“As we continue to get bigger, we face new challenges with the need to better manage more complex financials and employees. I received a lot of good information on management possibilities, and how best to structure employees and managers. After going through the program, I have a much better sense of ways to gain control of tracking machinery, maintenance and labor costs which helps our farm be more profitable. I have met some very interesting and highly informed and smart people in this peer group. The information and openness of this group is the best I have ever experienced. It has offered me an opportunity to see other farms and learn why they are successful” ~ David

GET A BEHIND THE SCENES LOOK AT OTHER FARMS

"It's a tremendous opportunity to meet some of these other successful business people and learn from their experiences, and share experiences and ways in which they've addressed issues and problems. And quite honestly we all have the same issues and problems. It's been tremendous to learn and see how they've dealt with things" ~Marshall

IMPROVED EMPLOYEE MANAGEMENT

"We already started to implement a number of things that we've picked up from our involvement with the EFN. We implemented more regular employee meetings. We've started to more officially define the responsibilities of everyone working on the farm....we've started to micromanage less and delegate more. It's been a good thing. We've really been able to work on communication amongst those of us who are family members in addition to with our employees. That has really helped us make sure we are all growing in the same direction." ~ Mike

Better Business ~ Strong Legacies

Research by Dr. Danny Klinefelter from Texas A&M has shown that...

Incremental improvements in key management areas sets top-tier farms apart

That's what the Executive Farmer Network does.

It’s a peer group that brings together successful, connected, like-minded producers with similar challenges, in a confidential setting. We combine that practical experience with our third-party expertise to help you navigate the key management issues that are critical to your success.

Find Out More

Schedule a Call

How To Join A Peer Group

Give us a Call

Together we will determine whether our peer group process is a good fit for your farm.

Learn about the groups

Together we'll select a group that best fits your farm, based on size, management style production type, and number of employees.

Attend a Meeting

Peer group meetings take place at the farm of one of the members. Plan on two full days. Julie from our office will help you coordinate hotel and travel plans.

Gain Traction

We are here to help you keep momentum, and move forward with action items and fresh perspectives

“The peer group has provided opportunities to see how other farms operate. We exchange ideas with other producers and bring new ideas back to our farm. The peer group participation has helped me to think critically about my own strengths and weaknesses.”

Mike, Iowa

“It has been priceless to meet farmers facing similar challenges and being able to discuss these challenges and come up with ideas on how to handle them.”

Ryan, Ontario

Find Out More

Schedule a Call

Insights Executive Farmer Network

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 new ideas, While the senior generation brings financial capital and wisdom. These tips are gleaned from young clients I've worked with across the USA and Canada. It's not an...

Communication

Why Don’t We Talk?

Communication paves the way for success and peace. Written for Farm Futures and originally published in the July/Aug 2024 issue. "I don't care if he doesn't understand everything about hogs or running a sow barn. I need someone who can communicate and understand people." "We don't really get along with each other. We quit talking years ago and just focus on work." Communication skills, or lack thereof, are common complaints I've heard over the years. One would think that with all our options, mail, email, instant messaging, texting, and Slack channels, we would all be master communicators. But I fear the opposite is true in business, especially family businesses. As farmers, we often don't think we need to be great communicators, but let's think about it. You...

Succession Planning

Transition Planning Traps

Four tips to avoid transition planning problems. Written for Progressive Dairy and originally published 5/30/2024 HERE. Sustainability applies not only to the environment but also to sustaining future generations of farmers. It's also important to keep in mind that succession or transition planning in a strong dairy market is easier than in a tough market. Not only is there more optimism for the future and more options for growth, but there is also more money to go around. Unfortunately, today, there isn't extra money in dairy. Sustainable family dairies are strong in three areas: family unity, family asset growth and successor capabilities. In this article, we are focusing on the asset growth component. Family asset growth, or business viability, is sometimes at risk during transition planning. Look at...