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 4 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. […]
Spoiled Farm Children and Farm Succession: How to Stop the Temper Tantrums
As founders we all want our children to be happy and successful, but when kids have aged into adults we hope they are grateful for the opportunity and don’t take advantage of our generosity. When kids have always received something, whether it is money, assets or help, they can come to expect it. A sense […]
8 Essential Steps for Firing a Farm Child off the Farm
As a farm family coach, I hear the struggles of farmers who are used to being able to quickly repair or fix problems that arise daily. When these hard-working, well-intentioned folks have a farming adult child who is not a good fit for the farm, great stress lingers far too long – the stress of […]
Shirtsleeves to Shirtsleeves in Three Generations or Fleeing Heirs: The Financial Future of Your Farm
Last month we talked about the transfer of wealth on the farm and the tension that goes with it. Well, there is more. Financial planner Anthony Williams describes a study by Investment News suggesting that 66% of children ultimately fire their parent’s financial advisor once they receive their inheritance. These folks are called fleeing heirs. […]
Giving Gifts of Farm Assets With a Warm Hand
It was a great delight to hear Dr. Meir Statman speak to certified financial planners in Halifax at their annual convention in June. He was talking about normal financial behaviours and why culture matters in how we transition our money to the next generation. I clapped when I heard him say “I believe it is […]
Challenge the Unwritten Farm Rules: Bringing Farm Expectations into 2018
Susan Forward who authored “Emotional Blackmail” has a simple tool changing the way people have always done things. She says all you have to ask is “Where is it written?”. This is great! As we continue to get further into 2018, many farmers are stuck in old gender roles and are scared to challenge them. […]
Preparing Your Funeral: Why it’s Important for You and Loved Ones
In February, at the Boissevain Post Office sorting table, there were a record 5 white funeral notices on display. I am happy to report that the majority were an invitation to the funeral. Why does this matter? There is a trend in 2018 that has likely been building for some time as families avoid conflict […]
The Father Factor in Farming
“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 our […]
Having the Safety Talk on Your Farm
Like many of you, I’ve checked out the grain bin suffocation demonstration at the farm shows and collected many farm safety brochures. I think this spring is finally the time when we’ll do things more intentionally on our farm, including have the safety talk. Why now? We experienced family trauma in October during harvest when […]
2 X 2 Couples Retreat: 10 Reasons To Do It
Many farm families are concerned about the health of their marriages and partnerships. My speaker friend Dan Ohler is our guest this week to encourage you to think about doing a private marriage retreat or couples retreat. With all the stresses and strains on ag families, there is hope. Consider ways to cherish each other […]
