Jon and Julie Patterson are the sixth generation to own and operate Patterson Farms Inc. Their dairy farm is in the heart of the Finger Lakes in Cayuga County, New York where they milk 1,800 cows and crop over 3,000 acres.

Some farms have a “safety-third policy” when it comes to operating farm equipment. This lackadaisical attitude starts when the 10-year-old is driving the farm four-wheeler at break-neck speeds through muddy fields and skidding around the corner.

Most family farm and ranch owners hope that their operation will continue into the next generation. However, accomplishing this goal doesn’t just happen on its own. A well-drafted estate plan is essential, especially for agricultural operations.

Have you seen those quizzes that are supposed to prepare you for parenthood? The idea is to get people thinking about how their lives will change once they have a child. These quizzes make me laugh because there really isn’t anything that can prepare you for it.

Shawn and Brandon Hurst, the father-and-son duo behind Hurst Brand Farms in Declo, Idaho, embody a unique blend of tradition and innovation. Rooted in a 90-year history of growing sugarbeets and wheat, their family farm now in its fourth generation and has expanded over the years to include potatoes, corn, alfalfa, pumpkins and sunflowers.

Hard work, determination and perseverance aid four generations of dairy producers on Boertje Farms in Visalia, California.