As you check out the auction sale circuit for this spring, you’ll see some well-known Saskatchewan producers who are selling out.
Two were Saskatchewan Outstanding Young Farmers.
Garry Meier is part of Meier Brothers Farms at Ridgedale. Garry and Bonnie were OYF provincial and national winners in 1993.
Warren and Carla Kaeding have Wagon Wheel Seed Corp. at Churchbridge. Prominent seed growers, they were Saskatchewan and Canadian OYF recipients in 1999.
Two other prominent seed growers are also having auction sales this spring: Glenn Annand of Mossbank and Tim Gieger of Leader.
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Vince Walker, from the Melfort area, one of the founders of Walker Seeds (now Legumex Walker) is also having a sale. In his case, the machinery is being sold but the land will be farmed by the next generation.
Lyle Simonson is another name that jumps off the computer screen. Lyle and Debbie farm near Swift Current and Lyle has been a driving force within the Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission.
All of the above are medium to large progressive operations with mostly late-model equipment for sale. Without delving into personal specifics, these high-profile producers provide an interesting cross-section of why and how producers decide to exit the business.
Age eventually catches up with us all and sometimes health issues can also arise. Many of the farm auctions that are held every year are estate sales because the person passed away while farming.
Sometimes people get out of farming but maintain an associated agricultural enterprise, whether it’s a seed or equipment business.
In other cases, farmers haven’t reached a normal retirement age, but they want to sell out while prices are good. It’s a boom and bust business with more down times than good times. Although many analysts foresee a bright future, there are no guarantees.
A huge part of the decision making process is whether the next generation wants to continue farming. For many operations, there is no daughter or son who wants to farm.
Sometimes young professionals change their minds and after working for a number of years in a career, they realize they really would like to come back. Some producers hold off on selling in case that happens with their kids. In other cases, there’s no waiting around for kids to change their intentions.
Some farmers love it so much they can’t imagine doing anything else. Being a farmer isn’t just a career; it’s who they are. They’d rather be seeding than hitting the golf course.
Sometimes these sorts of producers are a detriment to the coming generation. A 30-, 40- or 50-year-old son is still just a glorified employee because Dad is still calling the shots and owns all the assets.
Other producers tire of the long hours and the financial risk and are quite happy to move onto another stage in their lives.
Farms can involve a lot of emotional baggage. Passed down from one generation to the next, the farm can become more than just dirt and iron. Being the one who sells the family farm can carry a lot of guilt.
In some cases, an auction sale of the equipment means the land is also being sold. In other cases, the land is kept in the family because it’s considered a great long-term investment.
There are literally hundreds of farm auction sales across the Prairies each spring. Behind many of the auctions is a personal journey that’s taking a new direction.
