Take it easy
Annie recalls: “L’Abri végétal was a favorite for us on all levels: the site was perfect, so was the production method, and we got along well with the current owners.”
The farm transfer process was started in 2007 and was finalized in 2009. It’s important to understand that a farm transfer takes time to accomplish and that you must be patient. She says, “You have to take the time to do it right and make sure both parties are comfortable throughout the process.”
Annie adds that working on the farm before she bought it gave her the opportunity to experience the lifestyle and learn from the owners at the time. She feels that doing things this way has helped her avoid unpleasant surprises.
Get some help
How to make a successful farm transfer without any fuss? Annie recommends seeking outside resources quickly and getting advice from unbiased people.
Financing is often the biggest challenge and, more importantly, the biggest stress factor between former and future homeowners. “Even if there was a good agreement with the owners, it’s always tricky to discuss finances. So we dealt with a mediator specialized in the agricultural field, who accompanied us on the succession path… she structured the process, and at each step, we were given tasks to do on our own,” she describes.
Be bold and ambitious
Annie wrapped up the discussion by recounting that her non-family transfer experience went very well. She concludes with a valuable piece of advice: “The first step is to have the will to acquire a farm, but more importantly, to be aware of the amount of work and the lifestyle that it entails. You must have the ambition in order to become an entrepreneur.”