Young people who aspire to a career in production agriculture are often influenced as much by their desire to join the family enterprise as by their passion for farming. And they also often dream of one day marrying and rearing their own children in the multigeneration family business.

Transitioning a business to another generation of management and leadership requires a lot more than just “want to,” however. One of the key factors for continued family business success is to make sure the operation is first and foremost a successful business. Consultant Jolene Brown calls these operations Business First Families. Brown is also a farmer and professional speaker.

“A Business First Family bases decisions on an agreed mission, written goals, code of conduct, quality communication, legal and written documents, and carefully managed risk. Then you can have a happy family,” Brown tells Farm Issues Editor Cheryl Tevis in “Generating Success!”

Brown and Don Jonovic, a Successful Farming magazine columnist and family business adviser, will keynote the Generating Success Conference: The Future Of Your Farm Business Now. The conference is August 11-12 in West Des Moines, Iowa. For details, visit www.agriculture.com/generatingsuccess. The conference is presented by Stine Seed Company and Successful Farming magazine.

Brown's new book, Sometimes You Need More Than A 2×4!, is a practical guide for families who want to achieve the best of business success and family joy. The $19.95 book is an easy-reading harvest of tips and wisdom. To order, go to www.farmhomecollection.com or call 800/678-5752.

Successful Farming Now On The iPad

To read a digital version of this March issue of Successful Farming magazine on an iPad, go to www.zinio.com/successfulfarming and download the app. The digital issue includes additional video, photos, and other enhancements, as well as regional stories that may not have run in your edition.