In this episode, I sit down with dairy farmer Denise Angst for an honest and encouraging conversation about navigating farm transition in real time — while life, loss, and change are all happening at once.
Together, we explore how clarity, communication, and respect across generations can turn uncertainty into opportunity.
We talk about why starting with simple family meetings matters, how fairness looks different than equality, and what it takes for parents to let go while still providing stability and support.
Denise also reflects on her own personal growth journey, the courage it takes to ask hard questions early, and why investing in yourself as a farm woman strengthens the entire family business.
If you’re wondering how to begin succession conversations, how to support multiple children with different paths, or how to move forward without having everything perfectly figured out, this episode offers a hopeful, practical look at what’s possible — one conversation at a time.
“Different is not wrong. It’s just different. The younger generation needs to respect the older generation, and we need to respect the younger generation. Let them talk about their ideas.” – Denise Angst
Resources Mentioned During This Episode
Wellington County Transition Planning Resources: https://www.wellington.ca/business-development/environment-agriculture/transition-planning
Empowe-HER-ed Book Order Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScXeW38zQC6WXvtoTglv009a9_pTS8vrtgGcxtEQGdooLKz5g/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=102144042538019289024
Retreat Registration:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeMY86Wg0SDWMRuJp1BWLxtk-nsvIs-iPuEhUO4XMHpIAeToQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=102144042538019289024
Linktree for all Connections: https://linktr.ee/denisemyjourney
About Our Guest
Denise Angst is a dairy farm partner who built a dairy farm business with her husband after immigrating from Switzerland in 1997. She is a proud mother of three grown children — two sons and a daughter — and values the journey of raising her family while remaining deeply rooted in the community. Along the way, Denise drove a school bus for 15 years and volunteered in various roles, always giving back where she could.
Over the past nine years, her commitment to personal growth has led her to become a first-time author, contributing a published chapter about how she found the strength to put herself first, and she is now preparing to host her third women’s retreat.
Recently, Denise transitioned into an office administration role, drawing on decades of farm office experience. By stepping off the farm’s daily operations, she is intentionally creating space for the next generation to take on leadership and office responsibilities, while continuing to guide and support the farm’s succession with confidence and strength.
Elaine Froese Resources & Links
- Watch this episode on YouTube.
- Visit the podcast website
- SPEAKING – book Elaine for your next event
- COACHING – explore Farm Transition Coaching
- MEMBERSHIP – become a Farm Family Transition Member
- FREE STUFF – downloadable tools for your farm transition
- CONTACT – take the next steps in your transition
Farm Family Coach Social Media Links
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Timestamps
[0:00:30] – Intro & how Denise met Elaine/background
[0:03:05] – Big family & housing changes (boys move out, parents move to town, daughter in basement)
[0:05:38] – Training Lucas as successor, giving him management responsibility
[0:05:44] – Paying kids for farm work, ideas of fairness vs equal
[0:11:11] – New Zealand idea, Peter’s surgery, Denise’s mom passing, Denise’s personal growth
[0:14:07] – Starting family meetings, updating the will, using Elaine’s workshop tools
[0:19:16] – Patrick’s role, land purchase, non‑dairy path & custom farming options
[0:20:37] – Sweat equity, Lucas tracking all hours, housing/heat as part of compensation
[0:22:20] – Accountant meeting, will changes, protecting Lucas if parents die suddenly
[0:22:57] – Parents’ income/retirement planning, Denise’s off‑farm job, risk & cash flow
[0:26:44] – Next‑step planning: documenting needs for Lucas and for Peter & Denise
[0:29:08] – Cohabitation agreement for Lucas’s girlfriend as a risk‑management tool
[0:32:09] – Why other families avoid succession talks (fear, hard conversations)
[0:34:13] – Peter’s backstory, losing his dad at 17, being ready to hand over management
[0:35:44] – Mutual respect between generations; recognizing different strengths
[0:38:24] – Questions from “Your Farm, Your Future” (excitement, emotions, success, timing)
[0:39:59] – What “good management” means when roles are split (barn vs office)
[0:41:03] – Shifting responsibilities, moving bookkeeping to AgExpert Online
[0:42:33] – Knowing what they own, investments, and the “gift” they want to give their kids
[0:44:27] – Cleaning out the farmhouse, kids choosing sentimental items
[0:46:55] – Message to farm women: self‑care, personal growth, and resilience
[0:48:23] – Closing: this is a “happy” succession story that’s still unfolding
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