In the last twelve months, Farming Connect has supported 183 farming families in Wales on this vitally important issue. Usually spanning two or more generations, farmers have been supported and encouraged to plan early for a tax-efficient and smooth transfer of assets to the next generation - the generation within whose hands the future of sustainable Welsh farm businesses lies.
A mini games café open to all at this week’s Royal Welsh Show will be located at the Farming Connect stand (Avenue K) today with the opportunity for farmers to share their ideas through co-designing a game which will be presented there at 11.30am on Wednesday 24th.
Mentera (the new name for Menter a Busnes) which delivers Farming Connect on behalf of the Welsh Government, will be exploring the potential to add to its current succession support package of facilitated family discussions, mentoring, legal and financial advice with an exciting and innovative new component – a ‘succession game’ designed to get the whole family talking and planning ahead.
Farming Connect Agrisgôp leader Jacqui Banks will launch the campaign to recruit members for her newest group, which will be tasked with researching and developing the concept for the new collaborative game. Agrisgôp is Farming Connect’s popular personal development programme that uses pioneering ‘action learning’ methods to help farm businesses adapt and thrive.
Jacqui will be joined by two internationally recognised game designers, Matteo Manapace and Hwa Young Jung, who specialise in producing both physical and online games which address complex social issues. The gaming duo will discuss the potential for games to influence behavioural change by tackling ‘real world’ problems. This autumn they will be working with Jacqui’s newest Agrisgôp members through a series of face-to-face and online meetings to develop the concept of ‘gamifying’ the serious topic of succession planning.
“Succession planning is a topic many families fail to address before there are serious implications for both family and farm.
“These two designers have a track record of developing collaborative games including Matteo’s award-winning ‘Daybreak’, which gives players the opportunity to gain a different perspective on climate change.
“There are often family discussions around farm kitchen tables, which is where a lot of quite important but informal family chats take place, so what better than a game to get people talking,” says Jacqui.
If this new game goes to plan, Farming Connect’s latest innovation could be a game changer for many more farming families in Wales.
“Please drop in to see us at the Royal Welsh Show to find out more about succession planning, get involved in the game we are co-designing and if you sign up for joining the new Agrisgôp group, you could also add a new skill to your CV – game developer!” adds Jacqui.
If you are unable to attend this event but want more information on joining Agrisgôp, email Jacqui.banks@mentera.cymru or call 07961958806.