For an aspiring agripreneur, becoming a custom operator may be the ideal opportunity to:

• learn the intricacies of farming
• develop good money management skills
• establish good customer service habits
• develop a reputation for reliability
• create some business equity 

Running a business is an excellent opportunity to develop the leadership skills necessary to eventually assume a management position in a larger family operation. Most families underestimate the value of off-farm experience. The self-employment opportunity or serving as an employee for someone else will better prepare a person to work within the family operation.

For Aspiring or Newly-Minted Leaders:

• Register for Top Producer’s Young Farmer Program – In Chicago on 01/26/2010
• Staring Down Succession – By Jeanne Bernick for Farm Journal 12/2009
• We Simply Want What’s Best – By Kevin Spafford for Farm Journal 10/2009