March 5, 2012

Farm families talk about a lot of things — the grandchildren, last week’s game, how the wheat is greening up early – but they often find it difficult to talk about the “bull in the center of the room.”  Transition and succession of the family farm or ranch.

Advisors can help with the financial planning, wills, and other legal matters, but how do you take the first step to initiate a conversation between generations about when and how to successfully transition the family farm?

Elaine Froese, the final speaker for the 2011-2012 Farmers and Ranchers College, will be addressing this topic with a program on “Discuss the Undiscussabull” March 15 in Friend.  She’ll provide strategies and tools for broaching these tough topics and successfully negotiating a positive resolution without stepping into an emotional mine field.  Froese, from Manitoba, Canada, specializes in succession planning and is a certified farm family business coach from the Hudson Institute of Santa Barbara.

She holds a Conflict Resolution Certificate from Mediation Services and has mediated conflicts for the Farm Debt Mediation Service. Her degree as a professional home economist is from the University of Manitoba.

She listens and coaches in the sacred space of family business meetings, and inspires new scenarios for people of all ages, said Brandy VanDeWalle, extension educator in Fillmore County and program coordinator.

Registration and Information

Froese’s program is free, but preregistration is required for the meal and materials.  To register for the meal and program, call the Fillmore County Extension Office at 402-759-3712 or email VanDeWalle at bvandewalle2@unl.edu. The Farmers and Ranchers College is sponsored by area agribusiness and commodity groups in collaboration with UNL Extension.