Help! My parents have loads of debt we don’t want!

Help! My parents have loads of debt we don’t want!

“Every front door looks beautiful” is one of my favourite Irish sayings. It came to mind in Deadwood South Dakota, in the Black Hills where I was listening to the woes of a young ranch couple. They have a strong desire to ranch as “debt-free” as possible, but her...
When it is hard to honour Mom what can I do?

When it is hard to honour Mom what can I do?

  Coming to terms with a farm mom who is difficult to deal with may not be what you were expecting to read. After decades of coaching farm families, one might expect that farm moms always are collaborative and willing to negotiate what is best for all members of...
How to write a will with joy!

How to write a will with joy!

  I want you to read this column and act. I recently did a virtual presentation with 120 farmers and many of them did not have wills in place. Stop procrastination now! I’ve encountered folks who are all dealing with different kinds of loss. One is a husband...
Stop the in-law rant, change your behaviour

Stop the in-law rant, change your behaviour

An American farm woman who moved from Florida to become part of a family farm in the cornfields of Iowa called me one day to say “ Elaine I am tired of all the ranting on social media about problems with in-laws. Something needs to shift, and we need to see...