Are Baby Boomers Selling their Family Farms?

The Baby Boomer is often defined as people born from 1946 to 1964, during the mid-20th century baby boom. I was born in 1965, and even though my three older brothers call me a pup, I still consider myself a boomer. My grandparents gave me Tab Cola and Orange Tang. I like fried bologna, hash, and cinnamon toast. For these reason I believe I qualify as a "Boomer." One thing consistent about our generation is we love our stuff: antiques, trinkets, and our children's old toys. It's been said, baby boomers have been known to view possessions as a way of measuring success. With parents who lived through the Great Depression, it makes sense baby boomers prefer to keep things for future use. Ranking highest on our list of possessions might well be the family farm.

It recently dawned on me that the majority of inbound calls are from baby boomers inquiring about selling land. In many cases this land that has been in the family for many generations. Last week calls came from FL, TN, AR, CT, and three from MO. All own Missouri land, all are boomers, and all are in the initial stages of deciding what to do with the family farm. I did a quick review of farms I sold in 2022 and realized most were boomer owned, or were recently inherited by Generation X (circa 1965 to 1980) Millennial Generation (circa 1981 to 1996) Gen Z (post-Millennial) (circa 1997 to 2012).

So the question is, are boomers selling family farms? The answer is yes, absolutely!  Is this an easy decision? oh hell no! In 15-years I've sat at kitchen tables with families, but not just siblings, these discussion include moms, dads, cousins, aunts, & uncles, all challenged with agreeing on a way forward. If ownership is in a Trust, the Trustee might feel the weight of the world on his or her shoulders. I'm writing this to let you know, you're not alone, more than ever before boomers are facing the most difficult decisions of their lives. These conversations are tough, there's frustration, anger, and tears, but in the end, usually a sigh relief.

So why is this happening? It would appear that we Tab drinking Baby Boomers are finally accepting that our children do not want our antiques and floral furniture. It's true, the next generation is telling us they do not want the responsibility of owning and managing the family farm. Most importantly, they do not wish to deal with co-owning land between siblings or cousins. Gen X and Millennials, are bluntly saying to Mom & Dad, "we would prefer you deal with this now, so we don't have to." 

Combine this gentle nudge from our offspring with record high land prices and it makes for interesting family discussions. Having had the pleasure of representing many families, I would offer this opinion. Once boomers decide something is important, they can be efficient at reaching a resolution. I think it's their willingness to invite everyone to the table and have a face to face discussion. Sometimes discussions are heated, but fellow boomers generally get it done. It's also important to note, if a few feathers get ruffled, time generally heals.

Author: Dennis Prussman

Dennis specializes in marketing Missouri land. His background includes 30 plus years of Internet marketing with a focus on real estate advertising. During this period he has developed relationships with buyers and sellers from across the country. His targeted advertising formula is meant to reach local, regional, and nationwide owners/operators and investors. Dennis believes when selling a farm, large or small, you have one opportunity to maximize it's full potential. For this reason, it's important to reach-out to as many buyer prospects as possible. Dennis is committed to professional client service and attention to detail. Local and out of state references available upon request.