Securing a legacy, separating church and state, and celebrating the good — a LIVE! Q&A with Elaine Froese

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As many are well aware, what makes a farm “tick” isn’t just the financial side of things, and a successful growing year and the operational day-to-day aren’t always the most difficult part of being a farmer.

There are many things that make up the family farm unit and allow for a positive succession experience. Our guest on today’s RealAg LIVE! episode is farm family coach, Elaine Froese, who has sat around many kitchen tables trying to help out family farms as they make succession decisions.

Check out the full video, and a summary, below:

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  • Her work is continuous. There’s always the next generation, and always the next task. It’s a journey.
  • Relationships are key. Be rich in your relationships. Secure the legacy of your business — and your family.
  • We’ve got to shift our mindsets. It’s time to get things done.
  • Farmers hate that…because they are more often used to a round-up solution.
  • Mindset that we need to take time to build a team of advisors. What are the gaps?
  • Across the country, fall has been pretty spectacular. Because we are getting all this fall work done, this might be a good time to work on that farm business plan.
  • Conflict isn’t bad. It just needs to be resolved
  • This weekend when you are sitting down for thanksgiving dinner…please celebrate. Strong families celebrate. Park those tough conversations for a new day. It’s a family supper — not a staff meeting.
  • Letting it go — have your key phrases written out, or in the back of your mind.
  • The great pause. Let’s change it to #healing, not the sad stories.
  • Did you know you can get your wills updated digitally now?
  • Communicate. Conflict avoidance is not good, and not beneficial.
  • Celebrate the good!
  • Keep church and state separate. When it’s family time, it’s family time. Vice versa, when it’s time for that family “staff” meeting.
  • You can’t control how others are reacting, but you can control how you are reacting.
  • Make lists. It can’t be said enough that lists are so important to keeping emotions in check.
  • Conflict resolution is a business risk management consideration.
  • Not that it’s the best thing to do always… but sometimes, you just have to leave the farm. Sometimes, you have to chase the dream in different ways.
  • Doesn’t matter what your sex is, everyone deals with different situations in different ways.
  • Personality tests? Better yet, conflict management tests, and finding out your style of communication.
  • Put those tests into practice after you’ve done them.
  • Sleep. The power of sleep is incredible. You don’t have to work 24/7! When people haven’t slept well, emotions are higher.
  • Get really good people on your farm advisory group. That’s imperative.
  • The in-law factor. EVERYONE at the table needs a voice.
  • What happens when someone doesn’t want to take over the farm? And there’s no succession to be planned? Don’t just sell — talk to advisors. You don’t want to lose your money because emotions are running high.
  • Counselling is about recovery, but coaching is about jumping forward.
  • Check out our Mind Your Farm Business podcasts for more resources on managing your farm business.

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RealAg LIVE! (view all)Season 1 (2020) Episode 47
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