Working with Family

Protect them by preparing them

rena@tomorrowiscoming.com — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

If you’ve been in the cattle business long enough, you’ve lived through more than one cycle that made you question your sanity. You’ve seen high interest rates, relentless drought, feed costs spike overnight and markets turn just when you thought you were positioned well.

Fair compensation when family members have different roles

don@dontyler.com — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Fair compensation in family businesses requires clear roles, annual reviews, market research and balancing benefits.

The fourth quarter: Why the most exciting chapter of your ranch legacy begins near the end

rena@tomorrowiscoming.com — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

The time is now to start thinking about and taking actions toward succession planning. You're not giving in, you're preserving your legacy.

Succession planning: 5 things to stop immediately

rena@tomorrowiscoming.com — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

For cattle producers, succession planning is often discussed in terms of what to do: create a will or trust, meet with an attorney, talk to your accountant and start building a plan.

Succession planning: Be the leader

rena@tomorrowiscoming.com — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 23:00:00 -0400

Succession planning is not just another task on your to-do list – it’s a defining moment in your leadership. Are you willing to step up and take ownership of the future of your operation? It’s time to stop waiting for the right moment and start leading with intention.

When is it time to revise your farm succession plan?

rena@tomorrowiscoming.com — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500

For many farm and ranch families, creating a succession plan can feel like reaching the finish line of a long and challenging process.

Challenges and opportunities of an effective ranch leadership team

rmilligan@trsmith.com — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400

"If you don't drive your business, you will be driven out of business.” This quote is by B. C. Forbes, the founder of Forbes Magazine, and runs doubly true for farms and businesses with more than one key owner or leader.

Farming through the unknown: Keeping succession plans on track

rena@tomorrowiscoming.com — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400

In agriculture, uncertainty is a constant challenge. However, these uncertainties should not paralyze decision-making or delay essential long-term strategies such as succession planning.

Identifying a non-family successor for your farm or ranching operation: A strategic business approach

rena@tomorrowiscoming.com — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0400

The modern agriculture landscape often calls for a more strategic approach – one that may involve identifying and grooming a non-family successor.

Paving the way for the next generation to return to the farm

rena@tomorrowiscoming.com — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400

It’s an exciting time when the next generation determines that they are going to pursue a career on the farm.

Leading a multigenerational business

don@dontyler.com — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Leading any business is extremely challenging. If the business is a family business, the level of difficulty is increased, and if you intend for it to be a multigenerational business, the difficulty is even greater still.

Farm succession: Opening the door to a difficult conversation

rena@tomorrowiscoming.com — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Farm succession planning is a critical topic that often gets brushed under the rug due to a variety of emotional and practical reasons. Families and farmowners may avoid discussing succession because of deeply rooted values, fear of mortality and the uncertainty of what lies ahead.

Understanding emotional intelligence

don@dontyler.com — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Emotional intelligence has become a significant topic for development and mentoring as well as a key criterion for management and leadership positions.

How much do employees really cost?

rossabronson@gmail.com — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 11:33:22 -0400

Don’t be afraid to compensate well and provide annual, merit-based raises or bonus structures into the employee budget. Good employees are hard to come by, and keeping them will be much easier than finding them again.

Manageable steps to make progress with succession planning this year

rena@tomorrowiscoming.com — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 13:59:24 -0500

Many families make the mistake of jumping into succession planning without a plan. They meet with their professionals, have conversations with family and may even get so far as to begin transitioning ownership of assets, but somewhere along the way, momentum gets lost and the plan stalls.

[Podcast] The more I went to school, the smarter Dad got

Tue, 13 Dec 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Moving an operation from one generation to another, Gus Brackett offers advice for those coming back to the ranching operation, which is “understand the why – why we do things” and to understand that first, before you just come in wanting to change things, and then finally be patient with change. He says, “The more I went to school, the smarter Dad got.”

Is your family member ready to manage?

don@dontyler.com — Fri, 24 Jun 2022 14:00:01 -0400

There are times when it is clear a family member has become a manager in the business before they were ready for the position and responsibilities.

Ancillary probate: ‘Anci-what-now?’

garrett@bhlawgroup.com — Tue, 24 May 2022 14:00:01 -0400

if you have assets outside of your home state – even temporarily (like cattle grazing in a neighboring state) – you need to consider the potential that probate may be necessary not only in your home state but other states as well.

Wellness check: How’s your marriage?

Tue, 24 May 2022 14:00:01 -0400

It is common in the agriculture industry for spouses to work together – creating an interesting and, at times, challenging dynamic.

Who’s in charge? Two documents that can aid in a smooth transition

stephanie@bradleyfryercounsel.com — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 14:00:01 -0400

When a person considers business, estate and succession planning, the big items at the top of their mind may include things like a will or an operating agreement.

Planning a family business retreat

don@dontyler.com — Wed, 23 Mar 2022 14:00:01 -0400

A family business retreat is often a multiple-day event that brings together key people in the business for an in-depth discussion about topics important to the business’s future.

Letting go of old stuff

don@dontyler.com — Fri, 24 Dec 2021 15:00:01 -0500

A few years ago, on Christmas Day, I had been out in the woodshop early in the morning finishing up some last-minute gifts. For those of you thinking I’m a procrastinator, I’m not.

Your role as family patriarch

don@dontyler.com — Tue, 28 Sep 2021 19:36:53 -0400

One of the richest blessings a family business could have is a patriarch or matriarch (I’ll use patriarch for both roles for simplicity in this article) who has moved out of their day-to-day leadership role yet is still available to share their unique wisdom when the need occurs.

Avoiding common mistakes in family businesses

don@dontyler.com — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 19:00:57 -0400

I am naturally optimistic and intrinsically look for the positives even during difficult times. It is for that reason I find it difficult to spend an entire article focusing on the counterproductive behaviors of some family businesses.

Incorporating new generations into the ranching business

Mon, 24 May 2021 14:00:01 -0400

Do you know you will not live forever? You may live all your days on the ranch, but the ranch will hopefully outlive you.

An approach for the next generation to engage in difficult discussions

don@dontyler.com — Mon, 24 May 2021 14:00:01 -0400

There are times when the next generation of the family business finds themselves in situations where they need the elder generation to make crucial decisions, plan more clearly for the future and take more deliberate leadership actions.

Improving your family brand

don@dontyler.com — Mon, 25 Jan 2021 15:00:01 -0500

“Riding for the brand” is a time-honored code used for more than 100 years by cowboys and ranchers as a symbol of the values and principles each ranch lived by.

Creating structure in the family business

don@dontyler.com — Wed, 25 Nov 2020 15:00:01 -0500

A business cannot achieve its full potential without establishing a level of structure that provides clarity for each person’s areas of responsibility, standard procedures for tasks, levels and limits of authority for each family member and employee, and an agreement on how people will be held accountable.

Preparing the next generation for setbacks and market disruption

don@dontyler.com — Fri, 22 May 2020 14:00:01 -0400

The last few years have been a challenging time for even the most seasoned producers.

Holding family members accountable

don@dontyler.com — Tue, 24 Dec 2019 15:00:01 -0500

Family businesses are the most difficult environment to establish and reinforce accountability.