Apr 13, 2020
Tracy interviewed Dr. Tom Deans at the FCC Young Farmer Summit in Winnipeg after he gave his presentation about transitioning the family farm to a group of eager young farmers. To open the discussion, Tracy asked Tom what farmers were doing wrong when it comes to farm transition. “I think what farmers are doing wrong when it comes to transitioning the farm is….they are doing nothing,” he conceded.
Tom confidently stated that he believes that silence is the great destroyer of the Canadian family farm. He then went on to say that it’s not the farm families that talk about the farm transition or the ones that have annual meetings with their farm advisors present. These farms are the ones that successfully transition the farm. It’s the farmers that are so overwhelmed by the complexity, the emotional tug on the heart strings, and the preservation of the legacy. These are the ones that wrap the discussion in silence and end up destroying their wealth and family relationships. These are the farms that do not transition. Tom’s opening statement was incredibly powerful, and it led to a powerful conversation about the challenges that surround transitioning the family farm.
If you farm with family, this episode is for you! Tune in now…