For a farm to run smoothly, everyone must pull his or her weight. However, the concept of doing one’s fair share is something not everyone grasps. Unfortunately, you will probably deal with one or more of these types of freeloaders on the family farm at one point or another.
#1. Boomerang children
Whether it’s college students returning for the summer or children who have moved back home permanently, you may have a hard time getting them to help. These kids may feel that their days of doing farm chores are behind them, and balk at the idea of getting their hands dirty again.
#2. Other relatives who are down on their luck
If you have siblings or cousins who are down on their luck, one of the first people they may turn to is you. After all, there is always room for family down on the farm, right? After you take them in, getting your kinfolk to share the load might be difficult. These individuals could feel you owe them something, especially if they can rationalize that they have somehow been “cheated” out of their portion of the farm.
#3. Farm and ranch hands
Most farm hands are well prepared for the hard work associated with the job. Some however have no concept of agricultural life, and can be taken aback by the fact that farm work is never quite finished. In particular, live-in ranch hands may associate salary with working hours, assuming they should work only a few hours each work to earn their stipend. These individuals might not even consider the cost of the room and board you are providing as part of their earnings..
Everyone who lives or works on the farm should have a clear set of expectations. That way, the odds of you encountering a freeloader is much smaller. For other ways to safeguard your family farm for the next generation, please contact us.
