We have found through trial and error over 30 years that there are three fundamental areas of concern in an estate and farm transition plan that each family should independently address — cost of administration, creditor protection and transition plans for land and operating assets.
In 1992, I had the good fortune to meet my business mentor at my very first college interview. He told me 10 years in the future, I would be the same person that I was that day with the exception of the books I read and the people I would align with.
Our music teacher in elementary was wired differently than most. Her name was Mrs. Frakes and she had more energy than the entire class combined.
Since 4-H began more than 100 years ago, it has become the nation’s largest youth development organization. The 4-H pledge is simple yet effective:
Harvest is over at Bohr Farms. The last of our harvested corn this year was stored in a 45-bushel tote and shipped to a company in western Iowa that makes whiskey from local-grown corn.
We often joke about our “job titles” on the farm. In the fall, my title is Director of Logistics, which translates into semi driver and grain cart operator. In the spring, my job is Manager of Seed Deposition (planter operator).
Now more than ever, there is strong demand for a transition plan that can meet a family’s definition of a “fair” plan for land transition yet is flexible enough to change with the planning environment.
Stop! Please stop with the public land auctions. This may not be a popular statement in certain circles, and I will probably take some heat from my auctioneer friends, but someone needs to say it.
One of the great symbols of our country’s independence is the long-standing tradition of fireworks. This year, we were downtown in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, watching the massive display of fireworks that closes out the city’s Freedom Festival.
After enjoying lunch together, Tim’s wife asked him to get something out of the attic. She was looking for a small box of porcelain figurines saved from her great-grandmother.
It was exciting to put our kindergarten son on the school bus for the first time.
For as long as I can remember, my dad has told the story about the divine sign giving him direction when he was young.
Each time I drive over a bridge, it reminds me of something one of my business mentors used to say: “How fast would you drive on a bridge if there were no guardrails?”
One of my favorite memories growing up was going to eat as a family for Mother’s Day. My uncle, aunt and two cousins joined my mom, dad and four sisters with my Grandma Bohr and headed to Dickey’s Prairie Home restaurant in Packwood, Iowa, to celebrate our mothers.
For many years, my son and daughter showed 4-H steers. For a majority of that time, we raised our own. We had a process to go to the pasture when the calves were little and pick which ones we thought would turn out best.
Everyone in agriculture knows about “fair” and “equal.” These are two simple words heard at each conference, planning meeting and family discussion about farm transition.
A popular country music song by Luke Bryan tells the story of a country boy’s independence and love of the outdoors.
There are many things to be thankful for in this life. This column leads with electricity because as much as we all rely on the comforts that electricity provides, most of us do not understand how it really works.
Recent harvest rains brought the opportunity for us to catch up on the farm.
The value in a farm transition planning process is not only identifying issues but also (most importantly) finding solutions that fit your individual goals. Everyone involved may agree on the issues, but there can be disagreement on how to solve these issues.
One of the things that I love most about my mother is her spunky and always positive outlook on everything she does. She is the most giving and kind person I know.
In reading through emails from IFT Publications readers this past week, a common theme stood out to me. There were five separate emails that each asked about different issues, but all five of them asked about timing.
This past month, my daughter had the privilege to experience the Iowa FFA convention in Des Moines. What a fabulous experience for the 3,000 young leaders in Iowa agriculture who attended.
Last month’s column on my grandmother’s “Old Wives’ Tales” brought some fun discussion to my office.
My grandmother was a disciple of the Farmer’s Almanac. She was full of old wives’ tales. She could talk for hours on end about most anything. As long as she was putting food in front of me, I could listen for hours.
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