man feeding hay to dairy cows in a barn

Succession on the farm: Where to begin?

Summer Series: Thinking of farm transition as a short-term, quick deal that we must get right because we only get one chance can prevent us from even starting the process — and starting it off right

Reading Time: 3 minutes I recently polled farm managers about what big projects they were planning for this year. Half the respondents said succession was a priority; however, many indicated that they don’t know where to start. I look at it like this: if you’ve taken your child to the field, or they work alongside you, then you have […] Read more

A blurred figure of a farmer carrying a blue bucket moves swiftly past a row of cows in a dairy barn

When motion doesn’t equal action

Farmers are busy. But does all the busy-ness mean that you’re getting things done?

Reading Time: 3 minutes After a busy day, have you ever looked back and thought, “What did I get done today? Did I check anything off my must-do list?” As author James Clear said so perfectly: “Being in motion (busy) does not equal action.” In the coaching world we call busy days “buffer days” since they act as a […] Read more


When you think about your current situation, what’s the ideal outcome or end game?

When farm plans fail

If you’ve been talking for years about planning something for the farm, maybe it’s time to look at why you’re stuck

Reading Time: 3 minutes “It’s been 10 years, and we still don’t have a plan.” If this sounds like something you’ve said to yourself, have you also asked, “Why don’t we?” Ten years talking about making a plan but still not having it written down, or not making any real changes in the way your farm operates, can be […] Read more