Episode 181 - The 3 Secret Killers of Family Farming Businesses: Confusion, Control and Conflict, with Jeremy Hutchings

As we reach the business end of the season for many, this episode offers a quiet reflection on some of the deeper and important challenges showing up for farming families and their business teams right across the country. 

There’s no guest this time. Instead, I wanted to take a moment to share some of my learnings and observations over the year through coaching calls, leadership workshops, and time spent walking alongside farm owners who are doing their best to juggle family, team, operations, and future planning. 

What continues to surface are three common forces quietly undermining even the most committed families. They don’t always get named, but they’re felt - in the tension, in the exhaustion, and in the weight that so many carry day to day. 

Those three forces are confusion, conflict, and control. 

In this episode, I explore what tends to happen when there’s no clear structure, when roles aren’t defined, and when everything rests on one or two people to hold it all together.  

I also touch on something many find uncomfortable - the idea that succession might not in fact be the issue at all! Sometimes all that is missing can be a professional and practical business management framework. Without structure, succession becomes messy. With structure, it becomes manageable, and the potential for success through generations enhanced. 

We will explore: 

• Why resourcing decisions have such a direct impact on freedom, stress, and family dynamics 

• The cost of carrying too much, and the long-term risk of building a business that depends on one person 

• What it means to lead professionally and put the right frameworks in place, from organisational charts and role clarity to strategic planning and operating rhythms 

• The career ladder model that helped one farming family move from tension to shared understanding 

• What high-performing teams have in common, and how they’re built with intention, not guesswork 

This is an honest look at what it takes to lead well inside a complex family business. It’s not about having all the answers, but about making time to pause, reflect, and begin putting the right pieces in place. 

As you think about what you want 2026 to look and feel like, this could be the right time to reset. Our TOP Producers Workshop offers space to slow down, take stock, and plan from a stronger base. If you’re looking to lead with more clarity and confidence next year, this 2-Day Workshop in February is a great place to start. We highly recommend it. More details here.  

You can also book a free coaching call to assess what’s working, pinpoint bottlenecks, and walk away with a clear 3-step action plan for your business. Click here to lock in a time and date that suits you. 

Thank you for your continued involvement with us and well done on everything each of you achieve for yourselves, your families, teams and communities. We're honoured to share this journey with you. 

Wishing you a safe, restful break and the clarity to make 2026 your most aligned year yet. 

Merry Christmas! 

From Hutch & the entire FOA Team 

P.S. Want the recording of our most powerful session yet? Avoiding The Silent Killers of Family Farm Businesses: Conflict, Confusion & Control dives deep into the exact strategies farm owners are using right now to stop bottlenecks, reduce pressure, and get their team moving as one.  

If you’ve been feeling stuck, spread thin, or unsure how to take back control, this will give you a proven starting point. Email us at [email protected] and we’ll send the full replay straight to your inbox.