The biggest issue keeping farmers awake at night is whether our children have what it takes to take over the farm.
There are many ways to answer the question. Indeed, we’ve written in past about some of the tests you can use, and we’ll write more about them in future.
But here is something to not forget. The must-have talent for every young farmer today is the capacity to maintain their core values while seeing beyond the traditional concepts of what a farm is and isn’t. As a strength, it’s more important than simple financial or production ability, because what good is ability without direction? And it’s more important than even the combination of loyalty, level-headedness and self-sacrifice, because what good are they without the prospect of financial success?
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We do a great job teaching our kids to solve problems. When it comes to thinking about concepts, we aren’t nearly so good.
I’m always disappointed by all the speaking- and essay-writing contests. The topics are why consumers should be thankful that farmers are doing such a great job. I’m not saying I disagree. Of course farmers are doing a great job for consumers. But we don’t need our kids to defend the way we’re doing things now. They can’t help picking that up at the kitchen table or in the pages of any farm newspaper. No, we should be asking our kids what their farms will need to look like a generation from now, what jobs they’ve got to do better, what tough choices they’ll have to make.
This issue of Country Guide explores some of the new thinking about farming. We don’t pretend the issue is comprehensive. This is a topic we’re writing about all the time, and that we know you’re thinking about all the time too.
I also know many readers will dismiss the story about Bob Baloch, who with some cheek we call Canada’s newest farmer. They’ll say he isn’t a farmer at all. To which I’ll respond — again with some cheek — that I guess your grandparents weren’t farmers either.
Harder to answer is whether you think Myron Teneycke is a farmer. You won’t find dirt under his fingernails, but we bet his way of farming will have a big role in Canada’s farm future. So will Richard Phelps’ approach to value chains. And so will the ways of the many other farmers you’ll read about in this and other issues of the Guide.
The attribute our young farmers need is the talent I mentioned above — the capacity to adopt and develop new ways of organizing their businesses that let them build on their core values and their core strengths. Sometimes the answer will be incorporation. Sometimes it will be a partnership with a cousin or a neighbour. Sometimes it will be direct marketing, value chains or joint ventures.
Can we help our children get better at thinking conceptually? That would be something to be proud of.
Are we getting it right? I’m at 519-674- 1449 and [email protected]. It’s always good to hear from you.
