{"id":525,"date":"2020-02-19T18:06:03","date_gmt":"2020-02-20T00:06:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/elainefroese.com\/blog\/?p=525"},"modified":"2020-02-19T18:06:03","modified_gmt":"2020-02-20T00:06:03","slug":"farmers-need-hobbies-what-is-yours","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/elainefroese.com\/2020\/02\/19\/farmers-need-hobbies-what-is-yours\/","title":{"rendered":"What are the Best Hobbies for Farmers?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Once, at a farm family meeting of siblings, we were trying to analyze why the parents were so reluctant to let go of farm asset ownership. I suspect one of the key factors keeping<\/span> transition planning<\/span><\/a> stuck is that many farm men do not have an identity, role, or purpose beyond their decades old role of “farmer.” Maybe your dad is looking for permission to continue owning a pick-up that he can fuel with farm gas or diesel, and he still wants a few cows to keep \u201cbusy.”\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But the truth is, there are other ways to keep busy. It might take a while to find the right fit, but eventually the best hobbies for farmers can fill a void you might not even know was there.<\/span><\/p>\n

Keeping busy.<\/b><\/h2>\n

\u201cRetirement is an artificial construct, stop thinking about it. Think about reinvention instead. I know too many people in their sixties who have \u201cretired\u201d from their occupations and are, basically, sitting around waiting to die. There is no moral or religious code calling for the excitement of life to end before life ends.\u201d<\/span><\/i> \u2014 Alan Weiss (A consultant I highly respect!)<\/span><\/p>\n

One summer, my farmer and I bought an Ocean Kayak that we have to fuel ourselves with our arm power. We have explored many of the local lakes and plan to have more adventures each spring and summer. We’ve made sure the craft can support young children who would delight in using it as a floating dock. We also enjoyed the power boats that our cousins own, but decided a kayak suited our current needs better. Perhaps our son will foot the bill for a fishing or ski boat for fun.<\/span><\/p>\n

In coaching terms, people let go of old habits and ways when they have something new to look forward to and do. What is it that you need to unlearn? (Maybe you need to unlearn being a workaholic.<\/span> Here’s how<\/span><\/a>.) What new things can you learn this year that would excite you enough to spend less time managing the farm as you transfer decision making to your successors?<\/span><\/p>\n

This is where hobbies come in.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The way you spend all of your time changes when you begin the process of handing off certain duties on the farm, or passing it entirely to your successor.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The best hobbies for farmers.<\/b><\/h2>\n

Farmers have a certain set of skills and interests best suited for certain hobbies. But don’t worry, I’ve created a master list of the best hobbies for farmers so you can pick and choose what might be right for you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n