@MattHintz3 I’ve also met some people “serving their sentence” and been highly unimpressed. And it’s hard to justify wasting time building relationships working with those people because i know they’re not going to be around long.

@ebenkampfarms That’s the retail ag space as a whole. It’s disappointing starting all over every 18-24 months with a new person. There is a major retention issue there.

@MattHintz3 Spent 10+ working as a diesel tech and service manager for Deere after college before coming home full time. I wouldn't pass up those experiences for anything. U learn to appreciate the other side of the desk and respect it.

@SaueressigKim It gives you real perspective of what the other side of the desk has to deal with

@MattHintz3 I think that this entire debate is rooted in false thinking. This attitude makes the farm out to be its own entity, and requires almost feudal loyalty to the farm to the detriment of the family. Nobody is happy being a slave to the "farm." This just destroys families.

@MattHintz3 Number 4: No man bun.

@MattHintz3 Every situation and person are different. Any talking head who has a 'my way or the highway approach' is someone you should ignore. Don't be the victim of their ego. They aren't clear eyed and they don't care about you.

@MattHintz3 I get the concept of 5 years away but what happened during the few years or so of college/trade school? Maybe summer intern or work for another farmer/rancher during that time? Life is short, if kid wants to farm why delay him/her those years?

@MattHintz3 Kind of cocky to think you can just do without the young person for 5yrs. And that they won't just find a way to start farming in some other place in the country in that time.

@MattHintz3 I went to college, spent nearly 10 years in the corporate world learning from others while helping on the farm on the weekends, renting 200 acres using dads machinery and using all my vacation during that time on the farm. Everyone has a different path. No set way to do it.

@MattHintz3 5 years is too long to require imo. 2 years would accomplish quite a bit. If the farm can sustain a family member as a new employee (especially if they are going to be a future owner) they should get a shot to add value!

@MattHintz3 I would add things like having your infrastructure in place (not equipment). For example, your books. Transparency about how the operation performs. Buy/sell agreements, life ins, etc. Those coming back likely will base things on data. Being prepared to accept change.

@MattHintz3 Worked off the farm all through my 20s. Learned a lot of valuable lessons from business planning to Human Resources. When I came home it was a choice as opposed to a fallback career.

@MattHintz3 Had 2 internships at co-ops in college and worked for a 900 cow dairy 1st year out of college before going home. If I’m lucky enough to have kids interested they’ll have to work at a farm that has livestock before they come home, just so they know how cake grain farming is

@MattHintz3 Best quote I still remember when I worked for another farm, “slow it down! I’m paying you by the hour, not the acre” he didn’t have to tell me twice to quit beating the shit out of his equipment lol

@MattHintz3 I wasn’t required to work off the farm and I won’t require my kids to do that if they want to farm. I don’t think it helps anyone.

@MattHintz3 I happen to know his daughter. He did raise great kids. She works off the farm and is doing great.

@MattHintz3 It’s a good idea. I ended up going back too late.