Executive Farmer Network

Surround yourself with Success

Business not adapting fast enough - Employees causing stress - Not enough time

It’s not easy managing a successful operation. Farming at this level is intense. You have aspirations for growth and improvement. But where do you turn to get the counsel, support and camaraderie you’re missing to help solve those strategic management issues?

JOIN A PEER GROUP

AND TAKE YOUR FARM TO THE NEXT LEVEL

FOCUS ON YOUR BUSINESS

"I continue to be amazed at the similar issues all of our operations face/struggle with. Whether it is orchard farming in Canada or no-till farming in Kansas or crop farming in northern Minnesota, we are all dealing with similar issues. I would also use the analogy that iron shapes iron. It is refreshing to be with like-minded producers who have similar goals of making their business better each and every day they go to work." ~ Eric

GET HIGH IMPACT ACTION ITEMS FROM EVERY MEETING

"Through our involvement with the EFN we have definitely made changes on the farm, starting with a more formal business structure. Identifying what we need to work on as a first step and using EFN as a tool to bring those issues forward and solve them. Our interaction with the peer group and Tim is really beneficial." ~ Brett

MAKE BETTER DECISIONS

"Your decision making is so much better. You walk into the room here and you are talking to one person, that's great. You learn something. You talk to 10 people: what they learned, what they tried, ask the right question at the right time. It's a much more powerful situation." ~ Chris

IMPROVE PROFITS WITH INCREASED EFFICIENCY

“As we continue to get bigger, we face new challenges with the need to better manage more complex financials and employees. I received a lot of good information on management possibilities, and how best to structure employees and managers. After going through the program, I have a much better sense of ways to gain control of tracking machinery, maintenance and labor costs which helps our farm be more profitable. I have met some very interesting and highly informed and smart people in this peer group. The information and openness of this group is the best I have ever experienced. It has offered me an opportunity to see other farms and learn why they are successful” ~ David

GET A BEHIND THE SCENES LOOK AT OTHER FARMS

"It's a tremendous opportunity to meet some of these other successful business people and learn from their experiences, and share experiences and ways in which they've addressed issues and problems. And quite honestly we all have the same issues and problems. It's been tremendous to learn and see how they've dealt with things" ~Marshall

IMPROVED EMPLOYEE MANAGEMENT

"We already started to implement a number of things that we've picked up from our involvement with the EFN. We implemented more regular employee meetings. We've started to more officially define the responsibilities of everyone working on the farm....we've started to micromanage less and delegate more. It's been a good thing. We've really been able to work on communication amongst those of us who are family members in addition to with our employees. That has really helped us make sure we are all growing in the same direction." ~ Mike

Better Business ~ Strong Legacies

Research by Dr. Danny Klinefelter from Texas A&M has shown that...

Incremental improvements in key management areas sets top-tier farms apart

That's what the Executive Farmer Network does.

It’s a peer group that brings together successful, connected, like-minded producers with similar challenges, in a confidential setting. We combine that practical experience with our third-party expertise to help you navigate the key management issues that are critical to your success.

Find Out More

Let's Talk

How To Join A Peer Group

Give us a Call

Together we will determine whether our peer group process is a good fit for your farm.

Learn about the groups

Together we'll select a group that best fits your farm, based on size, management style production type, and number of employees.

Attend a Meeting

Peer group meetings take place at the farm of one of the members. Plan on two full days. Julie from our office will help you coordinate hotel and travel plans.

Gain Traction

We are here to help you keep momentum, and move forward with action items and fresh perspectives

“The peer group has provided opportunities to see how other farms operate. We exchange ideas with other producers and bring new ideas back to our farm. The peer group participation has helped me to think critically about my own strengths and weaknesses.”

Mike, Iowa

“It has been priceless to meet farmers facing similar challenges and being able to discuss these challenges and come up with ideas on how to handle them.”

Ryan, Ontario

Find out more

Let's Talk

Insights Executive Farmer Network

Succession Planning, Uncategorized

What do transition planning and CRP burns have in common?

Successful transition planning takes a plan If you don't want a raging grass fire, you have to plan. To get a controlled fire that burns the CRP grassland without making the local newspaper, takes planning and preparation. I learned the hard way that tossing a match without planning doesn't end well. The same goes for transition planning. Transition planning is a bit like a pasture burn. It can either be effective and routine or really exciting and out of control. When transition planning is out of control, bad things happen, and people get hurt. Relationships and bridges get burnt. My first grass burn was a disaster. It wasn't that I was reckless; it's just that I didn't know how and didn't understand the power of large grass fire. Unmanaged conflict during a transition plan looks like...

Succession Planning

Investing in the next generation

Just like any investment, the earlier you start the more it has time to grow and develop. You invest in your business; you invest in your retirement, and you invest in your connections with loved ones. Have you considered investing in the future leadership of your farm? John thought he had everything covered. He didn't question his succession plan; he was fortunate to have two sons come back to the dairy. Everyone worked well together, and it was just assumed it would easily be passed on. Unfortunately, John passed away unexpectedly before his anticipated retirement date. His sons were not prepared to fully "take over" the operation, nor did they agree on who would be in charge of what. Arguments ensued. Employees quit. Big decisions were left unanswered. John did...

Business Growth Strategy, Succession Planning, Uncategorized

The conversations families must have if they want to keep the farm together

When it comes to Transition Planning, communication is the foundation. This was the case with my friend Bob. He was so delighted when both his son and daughter decided to come back to the family farm. In addition, their spouses also chose to join the operation. For the first year, it was smooth sailing. Together the family made plans to expand the dairy operation. Then, in a blink of an eye, things went south. No one agreed on the methods, operational protocols, or roles. There were even disagreements about the culture and farm values. Bob was discouraged; he assumed they would all be in constant agreement since his children were raised on the farm. He did not believe there would be any conflict among family members, the same people who...