Communicating Farm
Family Values
What’s Important?
Who Cares?
VALUES ARE ...
 Things you believe are
good, desirable and
most important.
 Your personal belief of
what is worthwhile in
live.
M. Viebrock - WSU Extension
IDENTIFYING AND
PRIORITIZING VALUES
 All values are important
 Many factors influence and change
our values
 Values vary among individuals
 There are no right or wrong
answers
M. Viebrock - WSU Extension
Planning for the Future
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Will they come home to farm?
New management style?
Will they listen to experience?
Will they work from dawn to dusk?
What about those spouses?
How will change be handled?
M. Viebrock - WSU Extension
Generational Definitions
Age
61 +
Year
1923 to
1945
Titles
Veterans, Silent, Matures,
Traditionalist, Seniors,
Pre-Boomers, Builders
42 - 60
1946 to
1964
27 - 41
1965 to
1978
Baby Boomers
Personal Gratification,
achievers, need to be fair
Gen X
Post Boomers, Baby-Busters,
want rewards, all about me!
6 - 26
1980 to
2000
Gen Y’s,
Millennials, Net Generation
(Twentysomethings)
M. Viebrock - WSU Extension
Generational Differences
Veterans
Boomers
Gen X
Millennials
Communication
Deliberate
Diplomatic
Blunt
Direct
Authority
Respected
Impressed
Unfazed
Resistant
Marketing
“If you want it,
you can buy it.”
“Find out
what
they want”
Ignore the
market
Interactive
Global market
High-Tech
Slide Rule
Built infrastructure
With hard work
Calculator
Quick and
easy
Computer
Want to be
entertained
Internet
Integrated life
Work & Fun
Committed
Team work &
Community
Driven
Personal
fulfillment
Balanced
Divided
Loyalty
Casual/TBA
Independent
Competent
As Granted
Seek
Validation
Indifferent
Not
necessary
Work Ethic/Style
Approval
M. Viebrock - WSU Extension
Women Running the Farm
- Generational Differences “Dedicate yourself”
“Be independent”
“Behave like a
businessMAN”
“Care for your
family”
“Be a mother”
 Loyalty to the
family business
is fused with
loyalty to the
family of origin
 Loyalty competes
with family
demands
 Loyalty to “self”
M. Viebrock - WSU Extension
Initiating Discussion
Why is it so difficult?
 Unpleasant overtones
connected to growing
old and dying
 Children don’t want to
appear greedy or as
trying to take over
M. Viebrock - WSU Extension
Someone needs to start the
dialog … who will it be?
 Don’t be put off by family
members who are not
ready to talk …
 They may never be ready
and later may be too
late!
M. Viebrock - WSU Extension
Continuation of the Family Farm
How important is it to you …
 That the farm remain in your
family’s possession?
Ponder: Children want to do
something different than farm –
how do you feel about that?
M. Viebrock - WSU Extension
Expectations Related to
Transfer Process
How important is it to you …
 That the division of farm property among
all children is equal in dollar value?
 That your children play a part in the
decision making for the farm’s future?
Ponder: Not everyone in the family is
satisfied with the way the transfer
occurs?
How does this make you feel?
M. Viebrock - WSU Extension
Maintaining Control of
Farm Decisions
How important is it to you …
 To be involved in marketing decisions
throughout your life?
 To maintain some financial control
throughout your life?
Ponder: Younger generation wants
major decision authority
M. Viebrock - WSU Extension
Security for Both Generations
How important is it to you …
 That your retirement wants are
protected regardless of the
effect on the long term
viability of the farm?
Ponder: Your children expect your
financial help to get established in
farming?
M. Viebrock - WSU Extension
Concerns About Children
How important is it to you …
 To give financial assistance to children
who choose farming as a career?
 To provide financial assistance to help
non-farming children become
established off the farm?
Ponder: Children may want to decide WHEN
to involve you in major decisions.
M. Viebrock - WSU Extension
Where does the time go?
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It’s time to talk
It’s time to identify
what’s important
It’s time to make a
plan
It’s time to make
decisions
It’s the right time!
M. Viebrock - WSU Extension
Presented by:
Margaret A. Viebrock
WSU Extension
viebrock@wsu.edu