Do You Want Your Farm to Die With You?

As a farmer, you hold more than just the title to your land—you hold the future of your operation, and ultimately, your family's legacy. The choices you make today will decide whether your farm continues to thrive for generations or die with you. 

If you want to be a real son of a b**** about it, you could do whatever you want. You can divide it all equally between your children, sell it off, or keep control of everything until the very end. But that fallout, the impact of that decision, will be felt for generations to come.

The question you need to ask yourself is simple: Do you want your farm to be a legacy, or do you want it to be a final payday? Do you want it to die with you, or do you want it to keep growing and evolving for future generations?

This isn't a one-off dilemma. Over the years, I’ve talked to countless sons and daughters who returned to the family operation, putting in decades of work under the assumption that they would one day take over. They were promised control, assets, and the opportunity to carry the business forward. 

Yet, 20 to 30 years later, when they’re in their 40s or 50s, they find out that none of those promises will come true. Instead, they discover that they have no real control, and all the work they’ve put in may have been for nothing.

If you're the one controlling the assets, I get it—this is one of the hardest parts of the job. As a parent or business owner, it’s painful to make choices that might disappoint people, especially your own children. Ultimately, you have to decide whether you want your farm to die with you, divided equally among your children like any other asset, or whether you want it to live on.

If your goal is to preserve the farm for the next generation, for your children or grandchildren to experience the same lifestyle and values you’ve cherished, you're going to have to make some tough decisions. These are decisions that may upset people. Some family members may not agree with you, and there’s a good chance not everyone will get what they think they deserve. But that’s the price of ensuring your operation survives and thrives.

In farming, legacy is everything. What you’re building is not about land or crops; it’s for the values, hard work, and lifestyle that come with it. If you want that legacy to continue, you need to think long-term and make hard choices now. Maybe that means passing the torch to the child who’s shown the most commitment or creating a plan that ensures the business can support future generations. Maybe it means restructuring ownership or assets in a way that’s not "fair" but is necessary for survival.

At the end of the day, the power is in your hands. You hold the cards. You get to choose whether your farm remains a lasting legacy or a final payout. But one thing is certain—you can’t avoid making the decision forever. The future of your farm depends on it.

So, what will it be?