Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Agriculture and the Scotiabank are teaming up for a series of three workshops on Family Farm Transition – Managing Change on the Multi-Generation Farm.

The first session in Kindersley attracted about 65 people with keynote speaker Jeanne Martinson talking about understanding the generational differences in leadership style and needs.

She also reminded the group not to assume people know what’s going on if you haven’t actually told them and to keep family and business time separate.

"If you don't want that in-law having an opinion, then don't talk about business in front of that person," she said.

"Have a business meeting at the beginning of the day on the farm before everyone does what they need to do. I realize that is challenging because you are consumed by the business, especially at certain times of the year. Having said that though, it is unfair to that in-law, especially a daughter-in-law, to not put her two cents in if you are discussing an issue right in front of her."

Martinson also talked about Leadership and Communication on the Multi-Generation Farm.

She says when you think about Social Generations, that’s Traditionalists, Baby Boomers, Generation X and Generation Y and they all want different things:

"Generation 'X' and Generation 'Y' have a high need for having their personal objectives met, as well as a high need for training and mentoring, so how do they take over the enterprise without that training and mentoring?" she said.

"Quite often older generations, boomers and traditionalists think that if the younger person has just been around for twenty years, they have absorbed all of the decision making and all of the knowledge that they need to make those decisions going forward."

The day also focused on wealth concepts with Scotiabank and the importance of sharing key pieces of information with others on the farm.

Today’s session is in Humboldt at the Uniplex and on Thursday at the RecPlex in Tisdale.