“I’m not an expert at this.”
“But no one is.”
That is how I started my first transition planning meeting, and both of these facts were true.
Dairy transition planning, or the process of preparing and transferring a dairy farm to a future generation is a process wrought with raw emotions and potential pitfalls.
Despite being this herd’s vet for over a decade I still felt unqualified to guide them through this process. I’d received no formal training about these conversations in school. I also was keenly aware that this would be the first formal transition conversation I’d be a part of.
I also knew that no single individual outside of this farm’s management team was any better qualified. They could not appreciate or understand the family dynamics at play. Nor would they have a deeper understanding of the husbandry implications this transition could have on the farm.
This is one of the most important realizations we as vets can have. While untrained, overwhelmed, or afraid it’s our responsibility to find a role in these conversations. To preserve the health and longevity of the industry.
“So how can we help?”
This is the question I posed to my senior partners at the clinic knowing their insights would prove vital to my success.
3 Step Plan
Those conversations were able to craft a three-step plan that is accessible to every vet in our industry.
1. Unpack the Stories. Every generation has an internal story of what a successful transition looks like playing in their head. Our first goal is to get that story out and to share it with the family. To do this I encourage every participant to write that story down and share it with the group.
This can be an emotional time for each participant but impactful if handled well. These raw emotional moments bring the transition into the light of reality.
2. Shared Future Vision. Encourage each participant to share their business vision for the farm over the next five years. This can include things like what the farm looks like, the primary source of income, alternative sources of income, and their unique role.
This is a great time to begin to ‘job craft’ for the younger and older generations. What will retirement look like for mom and dad? Who will manage the cows? Fieldwork? Get the group to begin to share their ideal roles.
3. How Can the Family Help? Remove all boundaries or preconceived notions from the table. Ask them; “What do you need from the family?” Sometimes it’s a simple kind word, assistance with fieldwork, or even much bigger than that. But this final task is often the one that reforges the family bonds that were challenged before.
These bonds are the ultimate goal of any successful transition. Providing a sense of relatedness between family members for years to come. Protecting and preserving the future health of the family and dairy.
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