“This meeting gave me hope that the process of succession planning does not have to be a painful experience” a farmer wrote on his feedback sheet after I had spent 90 minutes passionately explaining the emotional factors affecting farm family communication in business transfers.

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick” says Proverbs. I am writing this on the plane home from the Peace River region where BC Grain Producers in Dawson Creek and two farm families near Spirit River and the Alberta Peace Region gave me great hope that some families do get things right.

The Peace River region had a bad 2010 drought, and for some it was the third one too close to the last one. The folks who invited me to conduct family meetings with their successor son were pleased that their accountant also took the time to meet me and share his expertise in activating the details of the dreams and hopes for the farm to continue to be successful. Continue reading Hang on to Hope »