How Do I Make Agriculture A Viable Career For My Children?

How often have we asked ourselves this question? Or more importantly, how often have we made a point of convincing our children not to take the agriculture career path?

 Mama’s don’t let your babies grow up to be cowboy’s, make ‘em be doctors and lawyers....

There is a way. It is possible and in today’s economy it is more possible than ever. Yes, the obstacles are still there, but they are also getting smaller and more easily overcome. With interest rates are at their lowest, now is the time to help our kids out in obtaining a little capital to start that venture, buy that sprayer for custom work, or begin that small business as an agri-consultant. The knowledge that your son or daughter has is new and exciting and of immense value to the industry.

As a friend of mine said to me a few months ago at a young farmers forum,

“We have a strong voice in the South and we’re not afraid to use it!”

Yes we are a young population in decline but those of us that are here, are here for the long haul.  We are here for the love of it.  We want to seize the opportunities and build empires. As the world convinces itself of a recession, agriculture is overloaded with opportunities and for one simple reason, people have to eat! This is our chance to become a leading industry in the world economy. This is our chance to be noticed.

By the year 2050 the world’s population will be double what it is today. We, the youth of today and the farmers of tomorrow, will be feeding these people.

In reference to my opening comments, in the regular family farm business succession is often an issue. It can be done. Every day I read success stories of farm family businesses value adding, diversifying, embracing their children in the family business and creating opportunities for them to continue in the industry that they have grown to love and live.

Seek the information you need to make it happen. Google ‘Succession Planning’, the results will overwhelm you. People like Elaine Froese and Dick Whitmann are there to help. They have made it their lives to assist others in achieving their goals in handing over the family business to the next generation.

We do want to be a part of Agriculture, please give us the opportunity to succeed. You will be amazed how good that feeling of satisfaction is to see your kids succeed tomorrow, just as you have in creating the business that you run today.