Ron and Julie Lawfer, Kent, will never claim to be experts when it comes to transitioning their farm or planning their estate. They will, however, share what they learned as the third generation — one of their four children — joined Lawfer’s Willow Valley Dairy Farm eight years ago.

THIRD-GENERATION FARM: Ron and Julie Lawfer, along with their son John, operate Lawfer’s Willow Valley Dairy Farm near Kent.

Ron and Julie expanded their dairy operation and added robotic milkers in 2014, four years after their son, John, returned to the family farm. Together, Ron, Julie and John care for 150 milk cows, 150 young stock and 150 acres of nontillable/grazing acres. They also manage 300 tillable acres for corn silage, alfalfa, rye silage, shelled corn and soybeans, which all go to feeding the dairy herd. Ron and Julie split their business with John 50-50, from the milk checks to expenses. The transition process began several years before John was ready to return to the farm.

What did Ron and Julie learn about bringing on the next generation? How was the process from John’s perspective? Here are eight “non-expert” tips from the other side:

1. Seek advice. The Lawfers attended two separate family transition planning conferences several years before John was ready to return to the farm. The workshops covered financials, insurance policies, laws, taxes and scenarios. This information helped as they began official plans to bring John back to the farm. Julie says even though the workshops were overwhelming, the exercises and workbooks helped frame their process.

INFORMAL PARTNERSHIP: (From left) Julie, John and Ron Lawfer do not have a written agreement. They did not incorporate; they have an informal partnership. “This is what’s working for us,” Julie says.

2. Transition plans are not black and white. Even though it goes against what Ron learned at the University of Illinois and advice he heard at various transition conferences, Ron, Julie and John do not have a written agreement. They did not incorporate; they have an informal partnership. Ron explains they want everyone to have a sense of ownership and pride. For example, John rents and manages separate land. “This is what’s working for us,” Julie says.

3. There’s no such thing as "overcommunicating." During the initial planning phase, Ron and Julie held meetings every four to six weeks with all four of their children and three spouses. They blocked outside distractions, including phones, and captured meeting minutes. The main objective was to establish a will and transition plan. Today, they still believe in open and honest communication, even when the other person may not agree or immediately understand. “Communicate, communicate, and even when you think you’ve done a great job communicating, communicate some more,” Julie says.

4. Set and share goals. During their family meetings, Julie says each family member shared his or her professional and personal goals, and long-term vision for the family farm.  Everyone was offered the opportunity to be part of the farm. Ron explains that every family member, including the siblings who chose not to be actively involved in the daily operation, wanted to see the dairy farm move to the next generation. That was the family’s common goal. And that was the key to their estate plan.

5. Be prepared to make and share tough decisions. Based on the common goal established during family meetings, Ron and Julie knew they needed to set John up for a successful transition. “If something happens to us, and John has to pay his siblings off, he couldn’t do it,” Ron explains. That’s why Ron and Julie decided to split their estate 70-10-10-10. “We had to discuss what’s fair and what’s equal,” Julie explains. “They’re not the same.”

6. Allow breathing room. Ron and Julie note their will is written based on the goals for the farm and their family today. As their family grows, with grandchildren or significant others, they will revisit and adjust the will as needed.

7. Don’t let issues linger. Ron, Julie and John all agree it’s time for another family meeting. John explains they need to find ways to cover daily farm tasks so they can enjoy time away from the farm and “recharge their batteries.” Julie would like time to be a grandma. That may sound simple, but it's not when you have a dairy farm. They all agree this issue needs to be addressed, and they need to set up time to resolve it.

8. Cut the strings. “The older generation needs to learn to let go when the younger generation is ready to take over,” John says. On the farm, John is in charge of breeding and herd health. While Ron and Julie understand it can be hard to let go of certain responsibilities, they also know they have to pull back for the relationship to work.

Ron and Julie reiterate that every family and every operation is different. They know what’s working for their farm and their family. Julie adds that the transition process is never really over.

“We’ll always be working at it; it’s always going to be a process.”