Capture the Farm’s History

An important part of planning for the future is remembering the past. If a written history of the farm is available, take some time to review it. If not, review old farm records and talk to relatives and neighbours to create a written history of the farm. Reviewing the farm’s history will help the current and future owners understand the evolution of the farm and determine the legacy they wish to leave or carry forward.

 Check-In for Current Owners

If you do not have a significant other (ex. spouse or life partner), simply continue to the next topic below.

It’s time to start, or continue, the discussion about your future and the future of the farm with your significant other. The farm is important to both of you, and it’s been a huge part of your lives. So, thinking about a future beyond the day-to-day operations is an important conversation. The farm’s transfer to your successor(s), and the way that impacts the rest of the family, is also an important conversation. Everyone brings a different perspective as well as needs, wants and desires.

The conversation with your significant other doesn’t need to be difficult or unnatural. After all, you’ve been building your life together. This is a talk about what’s next and what you want your future to look like when you’re no longer running the day-to-day farm operation.

Here are some topics you should think about together:

• What kind of retirement would make us happy?

• How involved would I like to stay in the farm? What would my role on the farm look like?

• If we’re not farming, how will we spend our time?

• Did we want to retire close by or venture farther where the family can visit and relax?

• What will life be like without the farm? What will we miss? What will we be happy to never do again?

• What worries me most about life after the farm? What is most exciting for me?

Check-In for Potential Future Owners

If you do not have a significant other (ex. spouse or life partner), simply continue to the next topic below.

It’s time to start, or continue, the discussion about your future and the future of the farm with your significant other.  Farming is rewarding, but also demanding and can be hard to balance with a young family and/or an off-farm job. Work-life balance is becoming increasingly important to maintain farmer and farm family mental health and wellbeing. Discuss each other’s expectations. The farm’s transfer to you, and the way that impacts the rest of the family, is also an important conversation.

 Here are some topics you should think about together:

• What kind of lifestyle would make us happy?

• What would my role on the farm look like before, during and after the transition process?

• Do I have the necessary skills and experience to succeed in farming? If not, am I willing to learn?

• Do we want the current owners to stay involved in the farm? How so?

• If we’re not farming, how will we spend our time?

• Do either of us desire an off-farm job?

• What will life be like moving to the farm? What will we miss? What will we most enjoy?

• What worries me most about managing the farm? What is most exciting for me?

Brush up on succession planning.

You’ll want to chat with your significant other about what’s involved in succession planning and what to expect (apart from deciding what you want your lifestyle or retirement to look like). Why not brush up on the topic before your conversation? Read a couple of articles about other farming families who’ve gone through succession planning already. Borrowing from someone else’s experience or perspective doesn’t hurt. You might even want to share those articles with them so you both can benefit.

Have a look at our  Resources and Success Stories page to access additional information.