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20/04/2023
Angus Padfield and Carl Fuchsbichler, Bruce Rock with Matt Bowen, Boxwood Hill, at centre.
The land may be in their bloodline, but for families working together it's not always a business partnership match made in heaven.
There are managerial complexities within every inter-generational farming operation – discrepancies when it comes to future vision, stress management, risk appetite and on-farm decision making – and the recent Rabobank Young Farmers Forum helped address these issues, and more.
Certainly for Carl Fuchsbichler and Angus Padfield, the forum gave them valuable insights into how key a communication strategy is within a family business.
As brothers-in-law farming together with Carl’s father and Angus’s father-in-law Franz in Western Australia’s Bruce Rock district, it’s a unique dynamic that requires a highly considered approach.
One size does not fit all in family farming
After studying agribusiness at Curtain University in Perth, Carl returned home to the family’s cropping and livestock operation in 2013, working together with Franz.
In 2017 his sister Elyse and husband Angus unexpectedly moved home to be closer to the family after the Fuchsbichler’s mother Leanne, suffered ill health.
Angus admits there was a period of adjustment within the business to ensure relationships, and management, stayed on track.
“We had a few teething issues and we jumped on them early,” he explains. “It’s not as natural to be working with an in-law as opposed to a direct family member – from Angus’s perspective, or ours, but a fresh member of the team is an asset, and we had to work hard to ensure everyone was happy in their role.”
With Angus over qualified to be a farm manager, Carl said the first challenge was to bring him into direct management.
“To ensure Angus being part of the business was worthwhile, and sustainable, we had to make sure there was no hierarchy – Angus, Dad and I are all on the same level – no one is boss.”
And then there were the intergenerational challenges, with Carl admitting that while he and Angus often see eye-to-eye when it comes to common goals and vision for the future, keeping their vision aligned with Franz’s was sometimes tricky.
Young Farmers Forum providing solutions for next gen
A two-day forum covering goal setting, managing personality types, case studies, on-farm demonstrations, guest speakers and panellists, Carl said the Young Farmers Forum, held recently in Esperance, helped identify some of the pain points, and solutions they could apply within their own operation.
“Communication is by far our greatest challenge – I wasn’t even aware of how much of a problem it was until the seminar.”
“There are times when I get frustrated with dad, or I can’t work out what Angus is trying to say – and the forum gave us the tools so we can take the best approach to get our points across.”
Providing practical solutions to common farm management issues, Carl and Angus agreed that the personality testing and communication workshop at the forum could significantly improve their management.
“There are three people in this business, with three different personalities – at times it can be a bit heated when there’s a difference of opinion between us, but it also brings a diversity that can be a real strength,” Angus said.
He said the simple personality assessment identified the varying personality types, and helped highlight the different way people process decision making, which he believed was extremely worthwhile.
Carl agreed, and said the information was so valuable, they would now begin including personality testing when hiring staff.
“I think this could give us a real head start in terms of staffing, particularly before high stress periods such as seeding and harvest – we can make sure we put people into their ideal roles to try and manage staff, and the operation, the best we can.”
Communication was also key to reducing stress and improving sentiment across the farm, with Carl now recognising that discontent is closely aligned to a lack of communication.
“Angus is often across the spraying program, and I’m focussed on the seeding and harvest plans, so for Dad – who used to make 100 per cent of the decisions – he can get frustrated when he’s not up to speed on what’s going on.”
“The communication skills we’ve learnt at the forum will be really handy, and an opportunity to keep Dad in the loop, reduce stress and ensure everyone feels relevant in their allocated roles.”
A risk, or an opportunity?
Multiple workshops revolving around risk, land and growth and exploring different approaches to strategic growth also got Carl and Angus thinking.
“It was really interesting to hear different people’s drivers, and how comfortable they are with risk,” Angus said. “Particularly now that land prices have risen so much, whether they keep going up or level out, trying to get your foot on more land is an expensive process, but it can also be a huge opportunity to improve what you’ve got, and strengthen your business.”
Describing their operation as quite risk conservative, Carl said the forum gave him more confidence that the strategic management of opportunities needn’t be something to shy away from, particularly after hearing the personal growth story of one particular guest speaker who had grown his operation significantly in just 20 years.
“It was a very thought provoking story, with plenty of ‘take-homes’.”
“If your accountant, advisor, agronomist and rural manager are all giving you the thumbs up, then it should be a goer, but it all comes down to how hard you want to go,” Carl said.
A clearly defined vision for the future
Goal setting was another focus of the Young Farmers Forum that piqued interest, with Angus admitting that goal setting had not been a priority until now.
“On our farm we have a list of jobs that we prioritise and get done, but we’ve never sat down with a facilitator and clearly defined our long term goals.”
“Again, with three different people, all different ages, each with a different vision, this is something we really need to address so that all our goals can align.”
Carl and Angus are regularly encouraged by Franz to attend networking and upskilling opportunities such as the Young Farmers Forum, and Carl believes you never quite know what you’re going to pick up attending such events.
“You don’t know what you don’t know, and if you learn just one thing then it’s all worth it.”
In this case, both men have returned home to the farm revitalised.
“Personally, and on-farm I now have a clearer grasp of our strengths and weaknesses, and how we can make better decisions when it comes to putting people in positions where they’ll thrive, minimise stress and what we can do to support farm growth, whether that’s by improving the land or acquisitions,” Carl said.
The forum, designed to expand young farmer's knowledge, skills and networks in the key themes of ‘Understanding yourself, your business and your sector’ aimed to challenge thinking and bring together fresh perspectives.
Another guest speaker, Western Australian Young Farmer of the Year, Brad Egan, shared his insights on the adoption of precision ag across his property, and the use of data to support decision making.
“Brad was generous with his knowledge, and it’s exciting to see the possibilities and potential to apply some of his learnings on our own farm,” Angus said.
“The networking opportunity was equally valuable, and it was great to meet different young farmers from across the state, all working towards the common goal of improving their business.”
Carl agreed, and said it was an exciting time to be a young farmer in such a progressive, critical industry.
“The ideas and vision just keeps getting bigger, no two neighbours are doing things the same way and there is so much opportunity – and thanks to the Young Farmers Forum we now have a few more tools to help streamline management and continue to improve our business.”