Family Dynamics Can Impact Your Farm’s Business
January 20, 2024 Several years ago, I was asked to speak on family dynamics in a family-owned business. I reached out to a couple family business advisors who had both an MBA and a master’s in psychology to piece together the talk.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get the timing right. At the 35-minute mark of the hour-long session, I’d completed my slide deck. I happened to be standing toward the back of the room at that point, and as I walked down the aisle back to the podium, I began a sentence I didn’t know the ending to.
“So that completes the prepared part of the session ….” I then made the next portion a group discussion on issues people in the audience wanted to discuss among themselves.
The last half of that talk was eye opening. So many hurt people shared their struggles with toxic family dynamics. Some pretty horrible things were revealed, from embezzling to childhood abuse that carries into the current generation’s running of the operation. Even non-family members spoke up about having to navigate explosive tension between siblings or parents and children.
Those family businesses need family counseling more than they needed business advice.
That long ago, shoot-from-the-hip session has stuck with me ever since. When I visit family farms, I watch everyone’s body language and employees’ facial expressions. The guarded, wary expressions are telling, especially when one person is speaking enthusiastically.
So are relaxed, easily amused attitudes. It’s a relief to find that dynamic, hinting at a healthy work environment and family harmony.
Another tell-tale sign of decent working conditions? All the kids come back to the farm as adults, even when other opportunities exist, like the Strohauer family in LaSalle, CO (the subject of our January 2024 cover story for American Vegetable Grower).
The pressure of getting work done can exacerbate tensions at home. We have long memories when it comes to our siblings, kids, and parents.
For example, one boy gets labeled lazy because he prefers playing to chores. It’s easy for everyone to jump on that reputation any time he’s a bit late on finishing a task. Or a studious daughter can later be overburdened with the farms’ finances because she’s good with numbers.
Even if your family works well together, it never hurts to have a regular check in to make sure everyone is still doing well. Something that simple can help keep both your family and the farm healthy.
Oh, One More Thing
When I visited Strohauer Farms in July, I took a lot of photos, more than I could possibly include in the article. Here are a few more you may enjoy.
Employees at Strohauer Farms tend to stick around and are considered specialists in their particular area of responsibility. If they see anything not quite right, they jump on it and solve issues as they arise.
Photo by Carol Miller
Harry Strohauer bought this labelling machine in 2006 from a Spanish company, one of the first it ever made. The machine has helped the operation create a strong shelf presence in grocery stores through its packaging quality.
Photo by Carol Miller
Amber Strohauer Vander Dussen checks on the progress of the farm’s fingerling potatoes.
Photo by Carol Miller
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