“You can’t make all of the mistakes; you have to learn from others. Life will be easier that way.”

Dad told me this when I was maybe 10, and many times after that. He may not remember this as well as I do, but it sticks in my mind. What has your father told you or shown you that has stuck? How to shift that old tractor just right, what not to spend money on, livestock and romantic relationships to stay away from. There are many that come to mind for all of us.

Agriculture has become what it is today by generations watching, learning, and improving upon what those before them have done. The future of farming is quite literally dependent upon the past. It is important for us to step away from our daily tasks sometimes, and reflect on our current operations. Take a look at three things: where you’ve been, where you’re at, and where you’re going.

Fathers are prominent figures in agriculture and have paved the way through incredible changes in the last century, for the future of agriculture. What can we learn from Dad? Mom? Members of the community who have influenced the operation?

For some, it was learning how to do things operationally, such as sowing a crop, caring for the animals, or protecting the land. Many have learned financial lessons, good and bad, from a generation who has lived through both difficult and prosperous times.

More often than not the lessons are unspoken, and we simply learn by watching- leadership, looking out for family, late nights of hard work, or taking a vacation when the family needs it.

Write it down

For yourself and your family, write down these pieces of wisdom, stories, and lessons learned, or document them in some way. Take more pictures, even if it is a grumpy old man who says he doesn’t want his picture taken. If you are that grumpy old man- these pictures are not for you! They are for your grandkids, and their grandkids. Tell the history of the farm through words, pictures, videos, or audio recordings. Think about what you wish you had known about your grandfather, or great grandfather. Things lost to history because they were called away too soon, or did not share the emotion or wisdom of things they have learned. It is incredibly important and treasured by family members.

We started recording these stories, pieces of wisdom, and advice in a podcast series called “Dad’s Wisdom” on our podcast called the Ag View Pitch. These stories are shared in an open interview style. We talk with not only fathers, but mothers, father-in-law’s, uncles, or anyone else in the community who listeners have reached out to us and asked if we could interview, and people who we knew had a story to tell.

For some listeners who never knew their father or didn’t have a role model like this in their lives, this wisdom is even more important.

The important part is documenting these pieces of wisdom - you never know what will stick in the mind of someone listening to these stories.

Do you have a story to tell? Would you like to hear some other pieces of Dad’s Wisdom? Send us an email at [email protected] and we would love to feature you, your father, or someone else who has had an impact on your farm or ag business. You can find the podcast on your iPhone by clicking the purple Apple Podcasts button and searching for Ag View Pitch, or search wherever you listen to podcasts.

Shay Foulk is a podcast co-host of the Ag View Pitch and ag business consultant with Chris Barron at Ag View Solutions, working with farms and families on transition planning, business structuring, cost of production and equipment rate analysis, and business decision-making. Learn more by email at [email protected] or visiting agviewsolutions.com.

The opinions of the author are not necessarily those of Farm Futures or Farm Progress.