Most people become farmers because they’re passionate about growing food, not because they love accounting. However, managing the numbers is a vital part of running a successful a farm business. The challenge then becomes finding an accountant who you can trust to do good job.
Continuing the family legacy
Scott Bardell farms with his two daughters, Brandy and Rachel, as well as their husbands, Ryan and Alan in Juanita County, Pennsylvania. Following in the footsteps of his grandfather who owned a dairy farm and milk bottling operation, Scott and his father then started their own dairy in 1959 and later expanded to raise 100 head of beef cattle, as well as the crops to feed them.
Managing the business
Analyzing the state of their business, the Bardells thought they were set. They had hired an accountant and all was going smoothly. “We really wanted to have a strong accountant for the business because it’s not something that any of us were able take care of on our own,” Brandy said. That is, everything was going smoothly until their accountant announced that a new company, Horizon Farm Credit, would be taking over their clients.
Uncertain about their future with Horizon, the Bardells were a little warry. Would the new accountant be as helpful as the last? Would they do an honest and reliable job? Little did the Bardells know, they had nothing to worry about.
Farm Credit was there to help
“We were all a little hesitant,” Brandy said. “But then the new accountant came one day with Horizon and it felt comfortable. It felt normal. It felt like we had been with Horizon for a long time.”
With Horizon managing the accounting, the Bardells have the time and energy to manage all the other responsibilities that come along with the family business. “There’s definitely been challenges. We’re very blessed to all be here together, but at the same time we have a lot of minds that have their own opinions on how things should go,” said Rachel.
Farmers for life
Despite the rocky patches, Brandy and Ryan, as well as Rachel and Alan are glad they decided to join the family business. “I’m excited for the future, to be able to show myself and this family with the help of everyone here, that we can do it and we’re proud to do it,” said Ryan.
Thinking towards the future, Alan agreed, “I think it’s also exciting to be able to raise our kids in an environment like this and to introduce them to what it takes to run a place like this.”