One of the side effects of being home-bound during the “Great Pause” is that I’ve become very fond of the predictable story arc of Hallmark movies. We have a bit of a game to see if the first kiss is within the last 15 minutes of the show. Farm marriages don’t need to get lost […]
Hiding Behind Your Advisors
I just heard an estate planning lawyer, Chris Delaney mention that he is seeing farmers “sheltering in the tactics” rather than embracing what I call the “emotional factors affecting planning.” Delaney is the author of “The Naked Opus”, a novel approach to estate planning. It’s a very good read. Please understand, the foundation for great […]
How to pitch pride to get transition traction!
In 2003, Tom Hubler, a family business coach, told me “Pride and stubbornness” are barriers to a successful transition. This winter Beth Moore’s teaching has encouraged me to explore the aspects of pride that impact family harmony. Let’s dissect this touchy topic. Heart. I am convinced the emotional factors affecting planning are keeping well-meaning families […]
When Silent Nights Don’t Bring Peace To Your Farm
When I was a very small farm girl, dressed in my homemade red velvet jumper, I looked forward to “Edie” Christmas on Boxing Day with my cousins. I recall my great-grandmother singing “Silent Night” to us in German. Little did I know then that I would marry into a family whose first language was German. […]
Trading overwhelm for mental rest…When you can’t go south for the winter
Harvest on our farm finished October 7th which is a whole lot better than December 18th of 2019 for last year’s harvest. I can only imagine what you might be feeling as you read this, sitting down for a break wondering when the mental chatter in your brain is going to calm down. I’m a […]
How to Start the Succession Planning Conversation
(Source: Canola Digest October 2020) Farm families are stuck when it comes to getting folks to the kitchen table to talk about timelines for transition of labour, management and ownership of the farm. As a farm family coach over the past 8 months of the Great Pause, many young farmers have reached out looking for […]
Spoiled Farm Children and Farm Succession: How to Stop the Temper Tantrums
As founders, we all want our farm children to be happy and successful. To make them happy, we’re often drawn to giving them what they want. But by the time they become adults, we also hope they’re grateful for the opportunity and don’t take advantage of our generosity. When kids have always received something, whether […]
The Gift of Contentment
As part of the redecorating project of my flooded basement, I took an ancient (faded ) mountain print gold framed picture to the glass guys and had a mirror put into the frame. The print had faded to blues, but the story behind the picture prompted me to “repurpose” what other designers might label “junk.” […]
Which Shade of Control is Blocking Your Farm Transition?
“Elaine, Dad just won’t give up control on the farm!” This is a common frustration I hear from the next generation of farmers trying to navigate into management and ownership before a farm transition. When we dedicate ourselves to something for decades, it’s no wonder it can be tough to give up control on the […]
How to Get Unstuck in Your Farm Transition Plan
October for farmers is a “get ‘er done” kind of season where fall work is pressing, late-season crops are harvested, cattle are moved, and the list goes on. Last March, when the Great Pause hit us, we were advised: “not to waste a good crisis.” So, on top of the routine things that we manage, […]
