Operating a family farm is a constant – but beautiful – contrast of practical goals and cherished dreams. The farm is like any other business that needs to make a profit to survive, but it is also the keeper of an intangible legacy passed down for generations. Balancing these two very different realities is tough – but building an effective decision team can help you create a plan that enables both goals to advance into a bright future.
Build a Team with Expertise
The business realities of running a farm require cold, hard experience. When developing your decision team, look to for individuals who consistently have given you solid, practical advice. These individuals can provide invaluable wisdom because they’ve been there; in their years of farming, they’ve had their own ups and downs of market volatility, natural disasters, or poorly thought-out financial expenditures. Choose trusted friends who have operated a farm with the same type of climate, crop, or scale that you are building, and you’ll have that added experience to rely upon.
Build a Team with Passion
Just like the profit margin requires expertise, the “dreamer” side of family farms need to have passionate individuals in your decision team. Don’t rely solely on the seasonal hired hands who may only last a month before moving on; tap into the sound advice of a relative or long-term employee who knows every single detail of the operation inside out because they love it. Make sure your decision team has passion, and don’t lose sight of your big dreams of the farm’s future.
When pressures grow too strong or decisions become too daunting, don’t be afraid to get outside help. At AgriLegacy, we exist to support the legacy and vitality of your family farm. Contact us, and let us help you build a plan that can support your farm’s endurance and impact for generations to come.
