Dad’s Return Displaces the Livestock Manager, His Daughter

By: Jolene Brown

Several years ago, my parents decided to diversify the farm operation and invested in a livestock enterprise. Since my dad had an almost full-time job away from the farm, my parents (and the banker) asked me, and I agreed, to learn to manage that part of the farm business. It’s a good complement to my off-farm job, and I’ve had full responsibility for managing this livestock enterprise. I put in a lot of hours and productive systems, have been paid well, and added consistent profitability to the farm. Dad helps with chores when he can.

Here’s the problem. Several months ago, Dad retired from his off-farm job intending to manage the enterprise full-time. We are having a lot of conflict: what I do, the hours, the transition. Now Mom and Dad want me only as an hourly employee “when needed.”

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