How do you navigate the unspoken expectations, deep-seated fears, and intergenerational tensions that make farm succession planning so difficult?

In this episode of The Extensionists, Jay Whetter and Toban Dyck are joined by Patti Durand, author and facilitator with Brightrack Consulting, to explore the challenges and opportunities in family farm transition. Drawing on her experiences with over 400 families, Patti explains why "intention is not a plan" and how the paralysis of inaction can impact multi-million dollar operations.

She shares actionable communication tools—like embracing "the pause" and pre-scripting tough talks—to help families move away from a narrative of fear and toward an empowering process of finding growth and vision for the future.

Tune into the full conversation for insights on how families can build a clear path forward for their family farm transition.

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The Extensionists - Conversations with Great Thinkers in Agriculture is a Burr Forest Group production with new episodes airing every other week on Tuesdays. Hosts Toban Dyck and Jay Whetter have in-depth conversations with industry experts, researchers, innovators, and farmers about the latest developments in agriculture and their implications. With a focus on making complex agricultural topics accessible and engaging, The Extensionists bridges the gap between research and farming by connecting the agricultural community to great ideas and thinkers.

The Extensionists is produced and edited by Abby Wall, researched by Ashley Robinson, and marketed by Michelle McMullen.