“Work/life balance” comes up as an important topic for many young farmers. In my opinion, it’s time to change our language to “the choices we make to manage our time.” When we realize we have a choice in the matter, then we can take action and more easily avoid burnout on the farm. Just knowing […]
12 Tips to Boost Farm Communication During a Crisis
Communication is important all the time, but communication during a crisis is essential. How has the current environment changed communication on your family farm? To help you out, I want to share tips from Patti Durand, a friend and an amazing transition specialist at Farm Credit Canada, as well as some extra tips that were […]
3 Keys to Embracing the Fight on Your Farm
Sitting on my stool in front of the third farm audience of the week, I should not be surprised to receive the same question for the third time by text: “Elaine, how do we stop the conflict on our farm? “ Don’t stop conflict. Change your mindset about fighting. Fight differently. Conflict that is resolved […]
Conflict Resolution: The Daughter-In-Law Barrier
Sometimes a short conversation lights a huge fire of controversy and this blog may create a few sparks. But please read carefully all the way to the end for key insights about conflict resolution in farm families. Conflict Resolution for Farm Families A farm family with a very strong-willed daughter-in-law asks their business planner how […]
Staying on Track with Your Vision for Family, Farm, and Ownership During Uncertain Times
If April 20th is the deadline on your farm to have the machinery field ready, you likely aren’t in the house reading this on paper, but perhaps you’re on my website blog, killing time in the field waiting or enjoying auto-steer. Farmers are problem solvers and fixers, but I don’t think we anticipated the ripple […]
Assumption-Free Living on Your Farm
A weary-looking farm woman waits patiently in line making sure she is the last one to speak to me privately after my keynote. She has just one question. “When is the right time to start including our daughter-in-law in family business meetings? She doesn’t know a thing!” How would you respond? Reflective listening is activated, and […]
How to See Transition Possibilities in Stormy Times
If you’re fighting anxiety or sorting cows, grab five minutes to soak this story in. You cannot neglect tending to the needs of your cows. Let’s talk about embracing the same urgency with your farm transition conversations. Shelle Rose Charvet, author of Words that Change Minds, has tools for better language that persuades and influences. […]
How to Be Present With Family (and Why It Matters)
Maybe you’re encouraged to be more engaged and present with your children and grandchildren, but could you actually say you know HOW to be present with family? How to be present. When I read Lisa Genova’s latest book Left Neglected, I was deeply moved by the power of a reconciled relationship. Without giving too much […]
Dump Your Grain, Not Your Pain: Stop Dumping Anger and Start Creating a Healthy Legacy
The email subject line read “UNBELIEVABLE” in all caps, and I knew it wasn’t going to be a happy farm transition story. Fourteen bullet points ensued with anger, poor decision making, people not taking responsibility for their inaction. After ingesting a dump load of angst, my reply simply was, “And what do you want me […]
What are the Best Hobbies for Farmers?
Once, at a farm family meeting of siblings, we were trying to analyze why the parents were so reluctant to let go of farm asset ownership. I suspect one of the key factors keeping transition planning stuck is that many farm men do not have an identity, role, or purpose beyond their decades old role […]
