Andy “Caygeon” Junkin: Succession planning and working better with family

Editor Walt Cooley visits with Progressive Dairy contributor Andy “Caygeon” Junkin during World Dairy Expo about working with family and succession planning. This three-part episode discusses how to goal set for success, how the next generation should work with their elders on the farm, and how to set a farm on the right path for succession. Junkins’s niche is helping stubborn farmers work better together. 

Here’s a breakdown of the episode:

• Business planning for farm families [~2:45]
• Junkin’s business plan in his wallet and how he manages day-to-day goals [~9:30]
• One-page business plan [~12:45]
• Creating short mission and vision statements and how it can change your operation [~18:15]
• Importance of shared goals [~21:40]
• What it takes to put a succession plan in place [~24:00]
• How to transfer management and wisdom before transferring assets [~34:10]
• First draft of succession strategy [~41:45]
• Tips for navigating family members not being on the same page [~46:30]
• Why many farm families struggle with communicating with each other [~50:45]
• Tackling four to five areas the farm struggles with [~56:20]
• Importance of common values and beliefs [~57:45]
• Navigating changing family dynamics during the first few years of coming back to the farm [~59:45]

To learn more about Junkin’s work in this area, visit www.stubborn.farm