The farm is not only a homestead, but a living heritage and a coveted inheritance. It is something that many of you were given as a birthright and you probably plan on giving it to your own children in turn. As times, customs, and priorities change over each generation, the older farmers sometimes struggle to connect with their younger successors. How can you spark interest and keep the flame of passion burning in the generations to come? How can you ensure that your farm is one that will be in your family for generations to come?
Sometimes changing years-old traditions is what is necessary to make your children feel as though they are part of your great heritage. Maybe you have always had black angus on your farm, but your daughter has mentioned wanting to dabble with some Waygu genetics. Consider a compromise where you are able to keep your classic black angus, but let your daughter branch out into something new. Look into purchasing semen straws from a good bull of her breed preference, and either crossbreed into some of your angus cows, or purchase her a heifer of her own. This will reduce your cost for the start up of the project, and likewise you will not have to purchase and maintain your own bull. If you are set against her breed, try to find something similar that you can both agree upon. What is it that interests her? An exotic appeal? Higher carcass quality? A flashier animal?
This scenario is just one of many that may apply to you. Making sure that our children can incorporate the farm into their modern lives is crucial to ensuring that they will want to keep the farm for themselves. Allow them to make a fun, relaxed Facebook page for your farm where you can advertise animals and products for sale, share fun photos from day-to-day farm live, and connect with other farmers and homesteaders. Take advantage of agricultural grants that allow you to use technological advancements such as solar panels and automatic waterers in order to reduce the strain of power bills and the tedious task of providing water to various portions of the farm daily.
Make sure that while you may want to maintain a certain tradition that your farm has always had, that you are open to trying new things and adapting to the new age of farmers. A fine balance between evolution and ritual is key: compromise between successor and predecessor.
AgriLegacy wants to help you keep your family on the farm, and your farm in the family. Contact us for more information on succession planning and multigenerational farming.
