Posts Tagged ‘Farm Kids’

The Father Factor in Farming

Wednesday, June 8th, 2011

Your father’s particular parenting style is the template that forms the father factor in your career.” “ If your father has died, that doesn’t mean that the feelings from the relationship are dead”. (Dr. Stephan B. Poulter, author of The Father Factor: how your Father’s Legacy Impacts Your Career. www.onefatherfactor.com )

Sometimes as a farm family coach I feel like a detective, patiently gathering clues via conversations from the fathers , mothers, sons and daughters who are struggling with their farm careers. Last month I found a treasured resource;  the book “The Father Factor” was recommended by a farm business advisor as the best book he has read, next to the Bible !

I’ve been writing about Father’s day in this paper for 16 years, and I think that I am most excited about finding this new tool for all farm families to access. If you want to glance through the first chapter go to http://mensightmagazine.com/Articles/Poulter,%20Steven/fatherfactor.htm Continue reading The Father Factor in Farming »

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Freeloading on the Farm

Thursday, June 3rd, 2010

free·load (frld)

intr.v. free·load·ed, free·load·ing, free·loads Slang

To take advantage of the charity, generosity, or hospitality of others.

freeloader

Noun

Slang a person who habitually depends on others for food, accommodation, etc.

Spring is the time we are aware of what  income taxes we need to pay. But are we aware of all the non-taxable benefits we enjoy on the farm ? Dick Wittman has a planning template to figure out all the things we enjoy on the farm, but don’t account for. (Go to www.wittmanconsulting.com and hit the file downloads “Compensation Summary”.) Things like “free beef” , fuel for the pick-up’s personal use, etc. The farm’s generosity covers many family living expenses. Compensation is sometimes a contentious issue.

Freeloading is a slang term with somewhat of a negative context. I wonder if you have challenged your single adult sons to account for all the benefits they have when then live with you after age 25, and how they depend on you for farm based generosity.

Some single farmers are not leaving the nest. They have it very good at mom’s house. She is still doing their laundry, feeding them, and mending jeans.  Mom is looking for mobile homes, but son isn’t getting the hint. Continue reading Freeloading on the Farm »

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What does money mean to you?

Monday, February 15th, 2010

We were sitting in convention workshop under the direction of Bruce Sellery, the founder of Moolala, when he asked the question, “What does money mean to you?” He expected us to answer. I said, “adventure and giving”. Another woman said “freedom”. I would be curious to hear your answer. Our values and attitudes towards money deeply affect how we pay attention to handling it well, or not, and getting what we hope for. Sellery says he has met many “smart capable people who are doing dumb things with money.” Continue reading What does money mean to you? »

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Don’t split the farm yard

Monday, January 25th, 2010

If you’ve got a son or daughter ready to take over the farm, let them move into the farm house—if they want to—and you can move out

As a mediator, I’ve seen some pretty dumb agreements about the home yard. When you are deciding to move away, or build a second home on the property, make sure you think things through with your lawyer and have some clear conversations with your successor. Continue reading Don’t split the farm yard »

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