A good place to start when beginning a farm succession plan is to determine what every family member intends to do in the future
THORHILD, Alta. — Six years ago Harry and Barb DeWindt ordered their three daughters and families to a mandatory meeting at the farm with no hints about the topic. “We are all sitting around the table. One said, ‘are you dying?’ No, I just want to ask you one question all at the same time. […] Read moreTag Archives after the farm — page 2
Farm couple insists on staying put
Vic and Winnie Rowley are in their mid- and late 80s; they want to stay on their central Alberta farm as long as they can
CLIVE, Alta. — At 88 and 86 years old, Vic and Winnie Rowley have no intention of retiring and moving off the farm. “I like to go to town in the morning for coffee and that’s it,” said Vic, from his farm north of Clive, Alta. “I don’t think I’d like living in town. It […] Read more
Move to town next step in retirement transition
Alberta couple recently sold the rest of their bison and a half section of farmland and organized their spring farm auction
At the end of April, the couple held an online auction and sold their antiques, fuel tanks, sprayers, bison-handling equipment, stock waterers, vehicles and a life-time collection of odds and ends from the farm. When buyers came to look at the auction items, whether it was an iron, cream separator or lantern, it all sparked a conversation.
Producers ponder semi-retirement
After more than 20 years working on their ranch, these cattle producers look to reduce their active farming lifestyle
Grazing livestock in the most efficient and ecologically sound way will always be in the future for Amber and Steve Kenyon. Grazing livestock on their northern Alberta farm may not always be in their future. “Our future is slowly getting out of the day-to-day and more into education and promoting,” said Steve Kenyon of Busby, […] Read more
Farm succession starts by gathering information
Workshops are available that help producers figure out what they need to do first to successfully transition their farms
STROME, Alta. — Dozens of farm couples drove through a winter storm to the small community hall in the hamlet of Strome to listen to accountants talk taxes, capital gains, trusts, liability, asset pools, shareholder agreements and death. Farm succession planning isn’t easy or exciting, but successful farm transitions take time, work and a bucket […] Read more
Retired farmer lands part-time job
Farmer puts past experience to good use while helping mediate equipment repairs that don’t always go smoothly
CAMROSE, Alta. — An agriculture engineering degree, a lifetime of farming and volunteering on local boards and committees scored Keith Rasmuson his first job off the farm. Almost three years ago, Rasmuson was hired as a farm implement inspector, a type of mediator to help farmers and machinery dealers navigate the sometimes tricky negotiations when […] Read more
Old farm machinery transformed into yard art
Couple turned yard into a showpiece of flower beds before starting to create art out of rusty equipment found in the bush
Don Engbrecht is into heavy metal, just not the music. The former farmer, agricultural salesperson and community association executive transforms old farm machinery into yard art. A dozen pieces are nestled between the flowers at the International Peace Garden in southern Manitoba, a massive piece is installed at an assisted living facility in Boissevain, Man., […] Read more
Succession starts at the dinner table
Family hasn’t had formal meetings about an eventual transition to the next generation, but the discussions have begun
The journey to farm transition is long and bumpy with plenty of blind corners and dead ends, but Lowell Nelson and his family have started down the road without a map and are not sure where it will take them. “We’re not exactly sure when or what is going to happen. We have slowly been […] Read more
Family expects more hard work as plan develops
Dairy farmers from Alberta have met with a succession expert but know there is more to do to make the transition final
An initial transition conversation two years ago was a boost, but there is still plenty of work needed to make the final farm transition, said Michael Haeni, a member of the upcoming generation looking at taking over the family farm. Two years ago, three generations of the family sat down with a farm transition expert […] Read more
Bad experience teaches family about planning
Farming sisters feel tough conversations needed to ensure all five siblings feel included in the transition conversations
A difficult farm transition that threatened to create a rift in her parent’s family has confirmed Chelsea Pellerin’s belief in the importance of a clear, written farm transition plan. A conversation 15 years ago of how the farm would be transferred, but not spelled out and didn’t materialize, was a wake-up call for Pellerin, who […] Read more
