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Family Dynamics and the Next Generation of Land Stewards
Kirk Gadzia and the James Family
Excerpt from Program:
"Michael Gerber states in E-Myth, 'If your business depends on you, you don't have a business. You have a job, and you are working for a lunatic!' How many of you are tired of working for a lunatic? Many families could benefit from committing to the creation of a business that is less dependent on the founder and more dependent on all the other good people who make up the organization. It is a fact that most family farms, ranches and family-owned businesses need some planning and management assistance. Few families have a plan for management succession or for bringing the next generation into the business. Too often, the day-to-day running of the business by the 'do it all' owner/manager precludes the time necessary to plan and create the desired future for both the business and family involvement in it. Many family businesses do this well or do it poorly.
"Kirk Gadzia works with ranchers across the United States and internationally to improve the sustainability of their operations. In looking at each business as a whole, his work involves financial planning, grazing management, wildlife interactions, improving land health and management-training courses on a public and private basis. Kirk is a Certified Educator in Holistic Management and served on the Rangeland Classification Committee and is co-author of Rangeland Health (National Academy of Sciences 1994).
"How does a family work together, live together, play together and stay together? The families at James Ranch are dedicated to doing just that. Every family and every member of the family is a unique individual and deserves to be respected as such, young and ever-young. We have been working and planning together for thirteen years and have some important lessons to share. As a family, from the three-year old to Grandmom and Granddad, we will share how we came together with equal opportunity for all to establish their own enterprise, working with each other, not for mom and dad, and our multi-generational approach to decision making and planning. The third generation in this family presently ranges from three years old to fourteen years old -- do these children feel welcome, encouragement, and promise for a future on the land, or a concern about the land? How are the children included in the planning and work of the ranch and its activities? How do we keep it together on a day to day basis - leaning on and learning from each other? We hope you leave this presentation with an enlarged view of the future for families on the land. -- The James Family
"Founded in 1961, the James Ranch is now multi-generational and is one of the last working cattle ranches in the Animas Valley, Durango, Colorado. The James Ranch supports a grass-fed natural beef operation run by Dave and Kay James, as well as enterprises for three of their five children. These enterprises include an organic vegetable farm, a tree farm, and a seasonal grass-based dairy from which artisan cheese is made. In 2005 the family was the recipient of the Durango Chamber of Commerce Green Business Award. Dave and Kay are frequent national speakers on family, grass-fed beef and niche marketing."
Excerpt from Program:
"Michael Gerber states in E-Myth, 'If your business depends on you, you don't have a business. You have a job, and you are working for a lunatic!' How many of you are tired of working for a lunatic? Many families could benefit from committing to the creation of a business that is less dependent on the founder and more dependent on all the other good people who make up the organization. It is a fact that most family farms, ranches and family-owned businesses need some planning and management assistance. Few families have a plan for management succession or for bringing the next generation into the business. Too often, the day-to-day running of the business by the 'do it all' owner/manager precludes the time necessary to plan and create the desired future for both the business and family involvement in it. Many family businesses do this well or do it poorly.
"Kirk Gadzia works with ranchers across the United States and internationally to improve the sustainability of their operations. In looking at each business as a whole, his work involves financial planning, grazing management, wildlife interactions, improving land health and management-training courses on a public and private basis. Kirk is a Certified Educator in Holistic Management and served on the Rangeland Classification Committee and is co-author of Rangeland Health (National Academy of Sciences 1994).
"How does a family work together, live together, play together and stay together? The families at James Ranch are dedicated to doing just that. Every family and every member of the family is a unique individual and deserves to be respected as such, young and ever-young. We have been working and planning together for thirteen years and have some important lessons to share. As a family, from the three-year old to Grandmom and Granddad, we will share how we came together with equal opportunity for all to establish their own enterprise, working with each other, not for mom and dad, and our multi-generational approach to decision making and planning. The third generation in this family presently ranges from three years old to fourteen years old -- do these children feel welcome, encouragement, and promise for a future on the land, or a concern about the land? How are the children included in the planning and work of the ranch and its activities? How do we keep it together on a day to day basis - leaning on and learning from each other? We hope you leave this presentation with an enlarged view of the future for families on the land. -- The James Family
"Founded in 1961, the James Ranch is now multi-generational and is one of the last working cattle ranches in the Animas Valley, Durango, Colorado. The James Ranch supports a grass-fed natural beef operation run by Dave and Kay James, as well as enterprises for three of their five children. These enterprises include an organic vegetable farm, a tree farm, and a seasonal grass-based dairy from which artisan cheese is made. In 2005 the family was the recipient of the Durango Chamber of Commerce Green Business Award. Dave and Kay are frequent national speakers on family, grass-fed beef and niche marketing."
