Annual Meeting Speaker Preview: Jolene Brown

Jolene Brown has seen farm families squabble over day-to-day operations.

She’s heard the concerns about how a farm and assets will be divided among children after their parents pass away. She even knows of a son in Pennsylvania who warned his parents they would go to hell if they didn’t divide the property equally.

Running a family business, particularly one as complex as a farm, can come with its share of difficult decisions, differing personalities, headaches and arguments. Brown, a professional speaker from Iowa, will give a presentation at the South Dakota Corn Growers 26th annual meeting that she says will provide insight on how to reduce the stress, cussing and ulcers.

“Farmers are really good people and want to do what’s right, but they don’t know what’s right so they end up in a heck of a mess,” she said in a phone interview.

Brown’s presentation at the upcoming South Dakota Corn Growers Associations’ annual meeting is titled “The Facts of Life: When Family and Business Collide.” In order to be productive, profitable and collaborative, families must have communication tools in place, documents in writing and a commitment to transition of the leadership and ownership of a business.

Brown, who grew up on an Iowa farm and is still involved in farming, is a family business consultant and professional ag speaker.

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You must pre-register for the SDCGA annual meeting and can do so online by clicking here or by calling the office at 605-334-0100.