Reading Time: 4 minutes In the final installment of our five-part series featuring farm families leading change, we hear from the Walshes — how they build a strong business by focusing first on a strong family Earlier in the series we highlighted families who have made bold strides through their business operations and family planning initiatives (you can find […] Read more
Bold strides: Moving forward by stepping back from the farm
In the final instalment of our five-part series featuring farm families leading change, we hear from the Walshes — how they build a strong business by focusing first on a strong family
Bold strides: Finding balance between generations
In our continuing series on farm families that are embracing change with their bold decision-making, we feature a family in the midst of launching their ‘G2’ to ‘G3’ farm transition plan, fully aware they must navigate the needs of both the entering and the exiting generations if they hope to ensure the farm and family remains in harmony for years to come
Reading Time: 4 minutes The DeJong family operate a diverse agriculture business an hour east of Toronto at Baltimore, Ont., and the farming brothers, Rod and Chris, have their own farming ventures — Knollcrest Poultry and Knollcrest Swine respectively — which they operate alongside their wives Nancy and Amy. Despite being focused on their individual farms, the brothers also […] Read more
Bold strides through diversification
The Cebulak family searches for new revenue streams that will grow the farm for the next generation
Reading Time: 4 minutes This five-part series features farm families leading change through bold decisions on family planning, new ventures, revenue diversification, innovation and business operations. Read parts one and two here. Cebulak Family Farms is a fruit, vegetable and cash crop farm owned and operated by brothers Blaine and Leonard Cebulak alongside their next generation: Nathan, Andrew, Derek and […] Read more
Bold strides through new ventures
A five-part series featuring farm families leading change through bold decisions on farm planning, new ventures, revenue diversification, innovation and business operations. In this instalment, the Woodley family, owners and operators of Woodley Farm and Greenhouses in Boston, Ont.
Reading Time: 4 minutes Barry and Christine Woodley have faced tough business decisions throughout their farm careers. Today’s challenge is a new one, though, and it requires a bold new level of trust in their family team. The Woodleys own and operate Woodley Farm and Greenhouses, and over the past 30 years they have used it to develop their […] Read more
Bold Strides: Through efficient family-based planning
The first in our five-part “Bold Strides” series on farm families that are committing to big thinking through family planning, new ventures, revenue diversification, innovation and business operations. THIS MONTH: the Griffioen family, owners and operators of Vrederijk Dairy in Tavistock, Ontario
Reading Time: 3 minutes Since immigrating from Holland in 1997, Dirk and Karin Griffioen have continuously expanded their farming operation. Today, on a land base of 400 acres, the dairy milks over 140 cows with a robotic milking system. Now, after two decades of building, Dirk and Karin are looking to the future and for the best ways to […] Read more
The Succession Advantage: Planning for the finish line
It's important to plan early and engage with a professional team
Reading Time: 3 minutes We wrap up The Succession Advantage with a final article about “The Finish Line.” At this point in the series, our succession plan is fairly well built. Along the way, we created family communication by aligning individual goals and visions; dove deep into farm financials and affordability; mapped the farm’s future through strategic business planning; […] Read more
The Succession Advantage – Finding fairness during farm transition
Reading Time: 4 minutes Our Succession Advantage series continues by examining advantages you can achieve during the transition process of succession planning. To date, we have covered the benefits of establishing proper communication for maintaining family harmony, clarifying the financial expectations to develop a sustainable plan, and dedicating time to strategic business planning. For the December issue of Country […] Read more
The Succession Advantage – Balancing growth and harvest
Reading Time: 3 minutes Following along with our series, The Succession Advantage, we have covered the first two critical stages for family farm transition planning. The Communication Advantage comes from respectful conversation and results in aligned vision and agreed upon goals for the farm’s future. Financial Advantages become more tangible when starting succession planning early and include tax savings, […] Read more
The Succession Advantage — Balancing the farm’s financials
Reading Time: 4 minutes Welcome back to our series, The Succession Advantage. Last time we examined the importance of using the correct tools to improve your family’s communication — a critical step to position your farm for continuity. This article addresses a stickier side — the financial aspects of succession. There’s the difference between what the farm is worth […] Read more
The Succession Advantage – Finding your family’s advantage point
Reading Time: 3 minutes Succession is more than passing the farm to the next generation. It’s about setting the farm up for ongoing success through a continual discovery process, examining every aspect of the farm and its operations, pulling out the very best, and incorporating them into best practices. It’s about having conversations with your family that get to […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
