Rock Picking In January

“Hey, watch out, there’s a rock the size of a loaf of bread about to go through the header !!” I yell to my new hubby in the cab of our combine as we harvest in l981. “Don’t worry, I saw it, and there will be more.” he confides to me. As a Red River valley farm girl...

Time Logs to Track Farm Work Loads

 “You don’t know what you’ve got til’ it’s gone…”is the line in a song that may ring true for families who regret not paying attention to earlier cries for understanding. My co-writer Dr. Megan McKenzie has a few thoughts about the...
Tools for In-Law Relationships

Tools for In-Law Relationships

There seem to be a number of weddings on our calendar this year. Parents welcoming a new bride to the farm or relating to a well-acquainted daughter-in-law take a look at these questions and compare the answers with your spouse. Questions for the Founding Generation...

Give Dad Reasonable Expectations

Another teary-eyed father sits in my coaching session rubbing his face, trying to hide his disappointment. He really wants to get things sorted out with his son, but his emotions are keeping him stuck. When I suggest that all he really wants is to be respected and...

Connected to Community

Many young folks are eager to climb on the bright yellow school bus, and see the friends they missed over the summer. Farmers are focused on getting a late crop off, praying for an open fall (autumn) and no frost until late October. Once the busy season has ended,...