Posts Tagged ‘Farm’

How do we treat the girls?

Tuesday, June 15th, 2010

“We all knew the farm would go to the boys. We were born in the ‘30’s and everyone expected Dad and Mom to roll it over to their sons. We were given educations, no land.”

“We wondered why my sister and I were not part of the family discussion about who would have the home place. It really hurt. Dad couldn’t understand why I was crying when we talked about it later.”

“The girls in our family all married well. I guess our parents felt we were well taken care of. My brothers got all the dairy quota and the farm. We girls got $10,000. I’m not sure my lawyer today would think that was fair!”

“Out here in dry land Saskatchewan we  wonder if we’re lucky we got cash and we are not stuck with the risk of the farm !” Continue reading How do we treat the girls? »

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Posted in Farm Family Coaching, Farm Succession | 2 Comments »

Why should I be a better listener – Part Two

Tuesday, June 15th, 2010

What if I showed you a free tool that you could implement today that would have the potential to make your farm 21% more profitable, without spending a dime ?

What is it?

It’s listening.  After you have asked  “What’s the most important thing to talk about?”

continue to listen, and use more open-ended questions.

Open ended questions that don’t require a simple yes or no answer will start the tsunami of ideas flowing your way. If your son is an “idea” style communicator, he needs lots of uninterrupted time to explain his great production idea to you, and talk about the potential to diversify your farm operation. Don’t interrupt. Let him go on all the tangents he needs to and look him in the eye. Nod in affirmation that you are truly listening, and try not to cross your arms in disgust or with impatience. Do you actually remember what it felt like to have dreams, be invincible, and feel like nothing could stop you ? Continue reading Why should I be a better listener – Part Two »

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Posted in Farm Family Coaching | No Comments »

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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Posted in Farm Family Coaching | No Comments »

Who wants the farm and when ?

Friday, March 13th, 2009

Hey folks,
I have been on the road lots this winter. Last Saturday I had the adventure of sleeping on the floor in the Beiseker Town Hall when my hubby and I got caught in a true Alberta blizzard! Thanks to the kind folks of that town we had an enjoyable stay. Right now I am in Arizona working with www.infusionsoft.com an internet marketing and database group that is going to fix my follow-up failure. So we are enjoying the desert for awhile.
This week I spoke to the Credit Union Central sponsored seminar entitled “Who wants the farm and when ?” I will be presenting this again on March 23rd in Langenberg Sask. and March 24 in Redvers. Sign up in the events section of www.wflc.ca or call 1-306-569-4567 to register for the 3 hour event.
The farming parents are looking for financial certainty for their future, what to do with non-biz heirs, and a new residence. The next generation is also looking for certainty, mostly timelines that will be acted upon, and they need a decent farm income also. I am concerned that many folks have no wills, no financial snapshot of their lifestyle needs, and no clue how to get the conversation started.
Please join us to help your farm family start to talk about the tough issues, and discuss the undiscussabull(TM)
If you can’t make it to the seminar, call anyway, so we can create new seminars for your town in the fall. There is also a great deal of interest in the Okanagan, so let us know your committment to make changes for your farm business.

Remember, it’s your farm. Your family. Your choice.

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Posted in Grainews Articles | No Comments »