VIDEO: Nothing new here with transition planning, or is there?

VIDEO: Nothing new here with transition planning, or is there?

Depth of Field with Kelly Sidoryk

When visiting with a fellow producer at a recent industry conference, he said, “Succession, succession, succession. Every time I open a magazine or article, that is what it is all about.” So why are we continuing to talk (or write) about it? Because many of us are facing it, and struggling. It is hard. The […] Read more



Alicia, Scott, Ivy and Lily Adamson are all involved in the work of their multi-generational ranch.

Saskatchewan ranchers talk ranch transition

Scott and Alicia Adamson found holistic management provided a framework for the succession process

Scott and Alicia Adamson found holistic management provided a framework for the succession process

As Scott and Alicia Adamson share their story of ranch succession in northwestern Saskatchewan, the tale begins three generations previously when Scott’s great-grandfather was working on a ranch nearby in the Meadow Lake area in the mid-1940s. Part of Fred Adamson’s pay was in cattle and when his herd size matched that of his employer, […] Read more

VIDEO: A new approach to revitalizing rural communities

VIDEO: A new approach to revitalizing rural communities

Depth of Field with Kelly Sidoryk

The decline of rural communities is nothing new to those who live there. For those of us in agriculture, these communities are a hub and vitally important. Many communities are finding new and creative ways to flourish. Becky McCray is supporting this with her development of the “Idea Friendly Town” concept. Many of her suggestions […] Read more


One of the bulls at Pharo Cattle Company. Pharo focuses on sound, moderate-sized, easy-fleshing cattle.

Production and profitability on cow-calf operations

Shifting focus from production per cow to production per acre adds up to a more profitable cow-calf operation, says Kit Pharo

Shifting focus from production per cow to production per acre adds up to a more profitable cow-calf operation, says Kit Pharo


Which is more important, increasing profits or production? This is the question rancher and seedstock producer Kit Pharo posed at a recent holistic management gathering in Valleyview, Alta. Pharo has strong opinions, speaks his mind and says he doesn’t care what other people think. “I may not always be right, but I am never in […] Read more

Holding hands in the wheat field.

VIDEO: Understanding change during farm and ranch transitions

Depth of Field with Kelly Sidoryk

Change and how we deal with it seems to be a common theme for me in this column. My curiosity has led me to another change model, known as the transtheoretical model. This model was developed in 1977 by James Prochaska and Carlo DiClemente, after reviewing several different theories. It’s usually applied to healthy behavioural […] Read more


When trust between people is high, communication is often easy, instant and effective.

VIDEO: Lauren Sergy on communication: Teamwork makes the dream work

Depth of Field with Kelly Sidoryk

If you were asked to envision a librarian-belly dancer, I am not sure what picture would come to mind. But that is exactly what Lauren Sergy, owner of Up Front Communications, is, in addition to being a communications and teamwork specialist. At the recent Advancing Women in Agriculture conference in Calgary, Sergy told a very […] Read more

The next generation of farmers and ranchers can build a place for themselves through the business structure by setting up roles and responsibilities.

VIDEO: The agripreneur mindset

Depth of Field with Kelly Sidoryk

en·tre·pre·neurnoun A person who organizes and operates a business or businesses, taking on greater than normal financial risks to do so. As we often see and hear, the days of simply growing crops and raising livestock are gone. Of course, those two activities are anything but simple, but the point is we need to run […] Read more


VIDEO: Vance Crowe on the rural/urban divide

VIDEO: Vance Crowe on the rural/urban divide

Depth of Field with Kelly Sidoryk

Vance Crowe is a podcast host who aims to expose listeners to ideas they would not otherwise encounter, and ultimately make better decisions and gain wisdom. He also records legacy interviews, where individuals are recorded for the family to have as a lasting memory or keepsake. He recently spoke at the Agri-Visions conference in Lloydminster. […] Read more

VIDEO: Rethinking mid-life transitions

VIDEO: Rethinking mid-life transitions

Depth of Field with Kelly Sidoryk

Chip Conley has a different perspective on retirement. If you live to be 90 and start working at age 18, when you reach age 54, you are halfway there, he says. Conley, a former hotelier and Air BnB employee, now runs the Modern Elder Academy. Conley cites societal changes that have occurred as our lifespan […] Read more