Balancing Act: Tips for Upholding Family Farm Traditions Without Affecting Farm Management

Growing up on and helping manage a family farm near Wendell, Minn., I’ve experienced a thing or two about family farm traditions and how they can impact family farm management.

In my decade of managing my family farm’s operation, and in my several years of working with ag producers at Bell, I’ve seen firsthand how farm traditions can drive feelings and motivations, and provide purpose to many. And I’ve seen how those traditions can spill over into everyday management decisions. This can be a good thing when it helps provide direction, but there are also times when it can create conflict and tension on the farm.

This can happen in a number of different ways. Maybe a child moves back home to help out with a parent’s farm operation, for example, only to find that things on the farm and at home are still being done the same way and their parents don’t want to change. Or maybe the child finds they don’t have any privacy in the new living arrangements, or they find there’s no separation between family and farm business.

Whatever the situation, differences in values or expectations can put a strain on the family relationship when they’re not addressed. On a family farm, there are a limited number of boundaries or guardrails in place between the family and the business, and when there’s tension in farm relationships, Sunday dinner may not taste the same.

Here are a few tips to consider to help manage the many different hats that family farm operators wear on a daily basis, and to keep traditions from negatively impacting the management of the farm:

1. Identify and communicate personal and operational strengths and weaknesses for everyone involved in the business. Don’t be afraid to share this information with all stakeholders to help backfill any weaknesses or further improve strengths.
2. Identify and articulate operational roles. Formalize everyone’s role and what their responsibilities are, regardless of the size of the operation. It’s important to put pen to paper to articulate what those roles are – this may help those “in charge” manage expectations instead of managing people or the process, which could help diffuse or avoid conflict.
3. Consider mentoring the next generation by allowing them to have input on major decisions before sharing your own thoughts. On the other end, younger producers should ask lots of questions and lean on the knowledge of the managing generation, and be ready to step in when needed.
4. Hold regular meetings during your “business hours.” This may vary by operation, but consider holding weekly check-ins in addition to monthly reporting, quarterly business meetings, and annual reviews. Make sure these occur during a weekday rather than around the family table on the weekend.
5. Establish and communicate a clear mission statement, vision and core values of the business, and revisit them annually. Do your personal goals reflect that broader mission, vision and core values? Are the goals shared by everyone in the family business, or do they need to be adjusted? Also consider any off-farm siblings and spouses for the above points. Have the mission statement, vision or core values been shared with them? Do they want to be part of the legacy or tradition?
6. Seek information continuously. I’ve participated in our family’s farm operation since I was old enough to walk and talk, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned from my time in the ag industry, it’s the willingness of others to share pretty openly what works and what doesn’t. Use the tools that are available to you, like social media, to find and follow trusted voices in ag. Get in touch with continuing education and peer group opportunities – the Executive Program for Ag Producers out of Texas A&M is one example that can help you connect and consult with someone who may have family dynamics or financial situations similar to your own.

Managing outcomes on a family farm can be difficult because of factors like weather, pricing and regulations. Family businesses don’t need the added stress of conflict and tension to make things even more challenging. By following these tips, you can maintain your boundaries, manage expectations, and uphold family traditions without negatively affecting your daily operations.

This article appeared in the Q3 2024 issue of Bell’s AgViews newsletter.