Succession Stories | 4 | The Messy Middle

About this episode

This episode follows the Fritz family as they navigate the complexities of farm succession and land ownership.

When Jake Fritz moved back home at 19, four generations were trying to make a living off the same acres northwest of Chester, Montana. With no succession plan from the senior generation, Jake's mother Dena and her husband Jim were leasing land from Jake's grandpa and great-grandma, giving away a quarter of their crop while carrying all the operating costs. This episode follows the Fritzes through an era of piecing their farm back together: buying land from relatives, absorbing sudden expenses when Grandpa Errol decided to sell, and slowly shifting authority to Jake. Their story captures what it looks like to work through the "messy middle" of succession to protect the future of a 115-year-old homestead.

People in this episode

Host: Megan Torgerson

Guest: Jake Fritz

Topics covered

• succession planning
• farming
• family business
• land ownership
• agriculture
• rural life

Keywords

• succession stories
• farming challenges
• family dynamics
• land leasing
• agricultural history
• rural succession

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Chester, Montana, Montana

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