[vetsinag] Farm Tip Tuesday: Family Dynamics on the Farm or Ranch

[Robyn Metzger]

Today’s Farm Tip Tuesday comes from the latest ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture podcast episode. This episode is the first in a two-part series featuring NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Kara Kroeger talking with family members Glenn, Melanie, and Linnaea Elzinga from Alderspring Ranch<https://www.alderspring.com/> in Idaho. Glenn and his family raise wild, organic grass-fed beef on their remote family ranch and deliver their products to customers across the nation. In this episode, they discuss the family dynamics they have cultivated, how each family member determines his or her role and the effects of COVID-19, among other topics.
Following are ways the Elzingas keep everyone on the same page and handle differences of opinion. Although the Elzinga family’s operation is a livestock ranch with nine family members plus other employees, their strategies can be helpful for any size farm or ranch.
Keeping everyone on the same page:
- Communication is key: they use face-to-face meetings, texts, and Facebook messages to keep everyone in the loop.
- During the field season when the cattle are grazing the family’s 70 square mile rangeland, the Elzingas have weekly face-to-face meetings with those who are coming back from, or leaving for, the range. They meet daily with those who work on the home ranch.
- As a team, they go through a list of priorities and decide what they want to focus on.
- They know that mistakes happen sometimes, and that’s okay.
Handling differences of opinion:
- Communication is key!
- Keep in mind that you’re all on the same team.
- Realize that differences of opinion are valuable and help you see things in a different way.
- Make sure everyone feels like they’re contributing.
- Compromise and come to a consensus.
- Learn from times of conflict and move forward.
To hear more about Alderspring Ranch, including how they handle communicating with interns, listen to the entire podcast episode here<https://attra.ncat.org/episode-189-alderspring-ranch-part-1/>. And watch for Part 2 of Kara’s conversation with the Elzingas, which will cover their innovative marketing.

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Don't forget to apply for the upcoming Virtual Armed to Farm training! This FREE virtual training will take place in six Zoom sessions during April and May. For more information, visit https://www.ncat.org/armed-to-farm-events/#ATF-virtu.

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Best regards,


Robyn Metzger

Program Specialist/Armed to Farm Coordinator

National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT)

www.ncat.org/armedtofarm<http://www.ncat.org/armedtofarm>

www.attra.ncat.org<http://www.attra.ncat.org>

479-442-9824

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