Grainswest - Winter 2024

Winter 2024 Grains West 30 Based directly on his conversations, Reimer made several operational adjustments in areas such as grain marketing strategy. He was surprised how invested he became over the course of two years. He initially believed the group would simply “throw some ideas on the table,” but they quickly offered much more for one another. “We were feeling invested in each other and in each other’s farms,” he said. “It felt like the group was buying in 100 per cent. That was a very good outcome.” Reimer’s group ended a two-year stint in the spring of 2023. His experience was positive, and he is open to join another group should the opportunity arise. “I don’t have all the answers for my farm, and I need input. I need people’s ideas and usually the only way you’re going to get that is to ask and maybe be vulnerable about a problem,” he said. Though Reimer believes his thoughts are not profound, he is grateful to have participated, adding the others helped him immensely, simply with open, honest words. “If you want some real numbers, you want people to kind of hold you accountable and you’re looking for real input from real farmers who have experienced the same things that you have, it’s a great thing.” A MINIATURE MBA Myles and Trena Fox always make room in their lives for the business end of farming. The Gravelbourg, SK, couple farm and raise their three children just south of town. “Right from the first business plan we wrote to wanting to find a mortgage on our first land, one of our key things was education and constant learning for our business,” said Trena. “A peer group has very much been a way for us to get that education through professional development opportunities and hearing about other people’s experience and lives.” In 2011, four years after they began farming, they both enrolled in CTEAM, an agribusiness program within Agri- Food Management Excellence, a company that administers a variety of ag management courses. The program focused heavily on executive level training for farmers and ranchers. The Foxes described it as a miniature MBA. By the time the couple wrapped up in 2013, they were eager to further share time with progressive farmers. Post-CTEAM, one of their presenters, Terry Betker, suggested Backswath Management, his Winnipeg- based inter-provincial consultancy that was about to launch peer groups. A year later, the Foxes signed up with Backswath. The new group was just what they wanted. Their meetings are held twice each year over the course of two days. They begin with the reading of a group-specific charter that includes a confidentiality agreement and outlines the reasons the group was formed and the values its members hold to be true. “It took probably two years to get to know everybody in our group and get comfortable,” said Trena. In initial meetings, each farmer outlined the features and functions of their operation. Group meeting constitute a facilitated exercise like others. Participants suggest discussion topics and guest speakers for future meetings. The Foxes, both 45, said discussion about HR, leadership and finance has helped them in their operation. Deep dives into the business operation of each farm and the raw and honest feedback that accompanied benefitted everyone present, Trena believes. “A lot of these people have become trusted mentors,” she added. The group has given them practical advice they parlayed into real change at the farm. Contending with drought over the last few years, the Foxes were advised to look into various insurance options perhaps better suited to their dry conditions. “We got real good feedback from those farms, from their dos and don’ts,” said Myles. “It saved us a lot of lesson learning.” The Foxes’ children, while still in grade school, have become increasingly interested in agriculture. Other families are at a similar life stage and while nothing formal has been arranged, family-to-family work exchanges are being discussed. This would allow the children to learn about farming from another trusted perspective. “You get to know not only each other’s businesses really well but each other’s families,” said Trena. “There wasn’t an intention going into it, but definitely when you spend that many years with a group of people, relationships form.” The couple encourages people to try a group on for size, but stress giving it an honest try. This means attending more than two meetings. Anyone banking on immediate “results” may need to adjust their expectations. The Foxes’ well-earned comfort has helped them supercharge their operation by tapping into the expertise of farmers who respectfully scrutinize their business to help them succeed. When the couple presented their latest strategic plan to the group in 2022, it was with the intention their peers would “shoot holes” in the plan as a gut check to see if they were being aggressive enough. “It really showed us that, OK, if we can get in with a group and do this and carry it forward, it’s just going to have that much greater an impact for our business,” said Trena. “The biggest growth comes from being with people who challenge you.” “ We were feeling invested in each other and in each other’s farms.” – Steve Reimer FEATURE