APRIL 2019 • COUNTRY LIFE IN BC


Farm families need to have affairs in order Updating wills, succession planning can prevent years of angst when tragedy strikes


by AMANDA POELMAN SAANICH – Visitors to this year’s Islands


Agriculture Show, held at the Saanich Fairgrounds on February 1-2, received insight into succession planning by Leona Dargis- Watson, whose personal story has inspired producers across the country and around the globe. Leona and her four younger sisters were born and raised on their family’s cattle and crop farm near St. Vincent, Alberta. Their lives were forever changed on August 13, 2007, when their parents Jean and Joanne Dargis were tragically killed in a plane crash. The girls, who ranged in age from 15 to 22 at the time, were forced to deal with their parents’ estate. The will that guided the process was written in 1980, when Jean and Joanne had just a few quarters of land, some cattle and just two kids. By the time of their deaths, the estate had


grown to 7,000 acres and 4,000 head of cattle, and the estate had to be settled among the five children – some of whom were still minors. The process took over six years because of the outdated will. Leona now shares her story at agricultural seminars around the globe. She’s made it her mission to inspire farm families to plan for the future, while encouraging individuals to pursue their passions, both on the farm and off of it. “Her presentation got me right in the


heart,” said Colin Springford, a poultry and beef producer in Nanoose Bay. “Her story is very moving, but more than that, she reminded us that you really need to focus on


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Leona Dargis-Watson uses her family story to drive home the importance of succession planning. FILE PHOTO


family when beginning a succession plan on the farm and not get so caught up in all the numbers and business of it all. At the end of the day, family is what’s most important.” Sharing her parent’s motto, “Always


have pride in the work that you do and always have fun,” Leona reminded attendees that no matter what happens in life, we need to appreciate all that we have and all that we can do, while challenging ourselves to achieve our dreams. An agri-business graduate of Olds


College and a Canadian Nuffield scholar, in 2011 Leona had the opportunity to travel to several countries to learn how farm families deal with succession planning. She came to the following conclusions, which she now incorporates into her presentations:


• what is equal is not always fair and what is fair is not always equal; • attitude is everything; • communication is key. Leona and her sisters were able to


take unimaginable tragedy, adapt to it and succeed, as their family farm continues to thrive. Her compelling story was a reminder of how important it is to have the ‘what if’ conversations, no matter how overwhelming they might be.


She also stressed that there is no


time like today to begin the succession process, because there is no guarantee that tomorrow will ever come.


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