Farm and Business Family Mediation
Find a way to manage business decisions that also supports family relationships.
If you find yourself in one of these situations, I may be able to help:
Farm Family Partnerships
When families farm together, you need to be able to function day to day in the business, and also be civil at Thanksgiving dinner. I help farm families to get past their existing (and possibly not very functional) patterns of communication, to open up to opportunities to listen, to be heard, and to make decisions that work for everyone.
Mediation services include:
- Succession/estate evaluation and planning
- Asset division or restructuring including land, machinery, corporate structure
- Day to day and operational dynamics
- Contracts: crop share/cash rent, equipment, etc
- Sale and/or purchase of farmland, livestock and equipment
Within Marriages / Partnerships
I offer mediation between couples or partners to resolve areas of conflict before they become unmanageable.
Mediation services include:
- Family discussions/conflict
- Communications coaching
- Life Transitions
- Day to day and operational dynamics
Separating or Divorcing Couples
Family systems look different in every family. It is important to have the opportunity to create the structure for the family system that works for everyone. Mediation offers the space and confidence to help people work together to be able to raise the children with the least amount of conflict possible as each party is given a voice and the opportunity to listen to each other.
Mediation services include:
- Property division
- Parenting plans
- Addressing communications issues
- Spousal and/or child support
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Farming may not be a lifestyle anymore but it is also more than a business. Your farming team need not be just your partners and family members; consider gathering all of your key professional advisers to work together on planning activities. Your team can work together to make sure the business is understood, viable and the family unit is supported.
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It is so important to understand all the different dynamics happening on the farm. Producers are expected to be good at business, finance, management, mechanics, and planning, and cultivate and preserve family relationships. It is hard to know the questions to ask when working with a team of professionals who are experts in their field – it can make producers feel out of their comfort zone.
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As a mediator, it is important to me that we ask the hard questions regarding not only finance but also personal goals, family expectations, business plans and exit strategies and have the opportunity to discuss with the assembled team.
When there is a direction that can be shared with all members of the business and family, it makes the day to day easier to talk about. With a shared vision it becomes possible to have all members feel like part of the team. The vision can be evaluated and redirected if needed.
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From succession planning to farm-related family conflicts, I offer all parties the confidence that they are part of the process of sharing information that will allow them to make informed decisions about the future of their farm and their family.
What to Expect
When two individuals are involved, I arrange to meet with each person separately to hear the current situation from their perspective. After having individual meetings with both parties, we will schedule the joint session. The joint meetings work well when parties are participating and able to hear each other to understand. It is important to note that understanding does not mean agreeing. Problem solving and identifying patterns of communication can take a little time and patience. We discuss reasonable goals for each meeting to pace the clients based on the level of conflict and their ability to find agreements that might work.
If we get to the point of resolution, we discuss as much detail as needed to ensure all parties agree and understand. If other steps are required, I will walk through the implications of those steps to come to an agreement on next steps.
About Michelle
It takes more than mediation skills to work with farm families; it takes an intimate knowledge of the complexities of farming and how farm life impacts family life. I know how complicated farming is; and how complicated family is.