The family farm. It’s a legacy worth preserving. After all, it’s been preserved for you. Now it’s your turn. If you’ve never thought of your life on the farm as a legacy, maybe it’s time you did. Now, just why is it so important? One — It’s important for you and your family It all started with […]
Little girls who grow up on the farm have little eyes and little ears. They see and hear what adults discuss and observe the actions taken. This was the case with Wayne’s daughter, Kate. Wayne was the middle child in his family. He had an older sister, Johanna, and a younger sister, Dawn. As the […]
Communication is the key to unlock all sorts of life’s mysteries. Babies learn to communicate so they can tell us what they think. Friends communicate with each other for enjoyment. Teachers communicate knowledge to their students. Why do farmers communicate together? They communicate to help each other out, to learn, and because it is vital […]
In any workplace, tension is bound to arise. The family farm is no different. Lines are crossed, resentment is nurtured and, in the worst cases, bridges are burned. In spite of working with your family–or in some cases because of it–buttons are pushed and boundaries are bypassed. The resulting strain on the farm as well […]
Succession planning for a family farm is not always easy. There are often many relatives who are interested, as well as many that don’t want anything to do with the farm. For this reason, everyone needs to be involved in the discussion, whether they want in or not. Then, once a plan has been made, […]
Marriage is hard work in and of itself. Financial decisions, lifestyle choices, and parenting require time, energy, and strong communication. Working together, especially on a farm, can make sustaining a healthy marriage feel impossible sometimes. And a divorce for a farm couple can be devastating when both parties are attached to the land and the […]
Conservation easements are a powerful tool to protect farm and ranchland from development and keep it in the family. How do they work? Each conservation easement is a legal agreement that binds to the land into the future. It becomes part of the title of the land. Depending on the reason for the easement, different […]
Isn’t it truly amazing that it only takes a twinkle of clear lights strung around a fir tree to ignite wonder in the eyes and hearts of our children and grandchildren? Baking sugar cookies around the breakfast table, wondering if every light up in the sky is Santa’s sleigh approaching, a single snowflake falling to […]
A family farm is a very important asset that in many situations has been passed down and worked for generations. At the same time, the value for farmland has continued to increase dramatically and is now very valuable. To ensure that your asset is properly protected and passed down to the next generation, working with […]
A family farm typically involves family members who are fully invested in the continuation of the agricultural lifestyle as well as those who are not interested in living or working on the operation. Rarely do all members of the family have the same goals. If they do there is the equally hard decision of how […]
