Every generation plays an important part in the success or failure of the family business. The decisions you make (or don’t make) could have a profound effect on the future of your family. As manager of your family farm or ranch, it is your job to make decisions with the next generation in mind. Unfortunately, I see far too many cow-calf producers procrastinating and taking the “stick your head in the sand” approach to management. Ignorance may be bliss – but it is a very poor management strategy.
We still believe… there will be more opportunities for you and your family operation to advance in the next five to ten years than there have been in the last 20 years – but only if you are willing to break away from the status quo, herd-mentality way of thinking. Many (perhaps most) of the upcoming opportunities will come at the expense of those who are unwilling to make a paradigm shift. That’s a little sad – but I don’t have much sympathy for people who are afraid to think for themselves.
If you don’t make the right decisions in a timely fashion, there may not be much for the next generation. This is a responsibility that should not be ignored or taken lightly. Your kids and grandkids are hoping you make decisions that are based on the future of your family farm or ranch. Now is not the time to procrastinate. He who hesitates may lose all he has – forcing his kids and grandkids to get jobs in the city.