Episode 63 - Equity partnerships: How experts help navigate success

In this episode of the Country-Wide Autumn Special Report: Pathways to Farm Ownership, Sarah Perriam-Lampp speaks with Sarah Barr from Rural Coach and Brent Irving from PGG Wrightson. Sarah Barr discusses how aligning values, building trust, and planning for the unexpected can create strong, long-lasting farming partnerships. 

Brent, drawing on his rural banking and real estate background, shares insights on how equity partnerships and lease-to-buy models are helping young farmers onto the ownership ladder. He emphasises the importance of collaboration, long-term thinking, and management skills over upfront capital, encouraging aspiring farm owners to seek help early.

 

Guests:

1. Sarah Barr, Partner, Rural Coach
2. Brent Irving, Rural & Lifestyle Sales Consultant, PGG Wrightson

Host:

• Sarah Perriam-Lampp, CEO and Editor-in-Chief, Country-Wide

 

With years of experience supporting rural families, Sarah Barr is a partner at Rural Coach, where she helps navigate the complexities of farming partnerships and succession planning. She highlights the importance of understanding what matters most to people — their values, motivations, and goals — in building strong, lasting relationships in farming.

Sarah explains how Rural Coach helps clients clarify personal and business values, often revealing insights that align parties before formalising arrangements. She emphasises early communication, trust-building, and addressing the "three Ds" — death, divorce, and disablement — as well as planning exit strategies from the start.

She also discusses the significance of reputation and visibility in a small country like New Zealand, stressing the need for proactive, honest, and consistent approaches to building partnerships or attracting investors. Lastly, Sarah touches on how equity partnerships can energise multi-generational farms and the vital role of advisory boards in supporting fair decision-making.

 

With a background in rural banking and now a real estate agent for PGG Wrightson in the South Island, Brent Irving brings extensive expertise in equity partnerships and farm ownership transitions. His early exposure to equity partnerships within his family ignited a passion for helping young farmers achieve ownership.

Brent explains that many older landowners are open to partnerships that reduce their workload while supporting the next generation. He believes success relies on a long-term, collaborative approach, often taking years to find the right people.

He stresses the importance of starting each deal with a fresh perspective, highlighting that there’s more capital available than many realise—from retiring farmers, private investors, and overseas buyers. Management skill, innovation, and the ability to manage compliance often outweigh the need for upfront capital. Brent also notes a rise in lease-to-buy arrangements and encourages young farmers to be proactive, ask questions, and put themselves forward. With the right support, ownership is achievable.

 

To read the full article on the Country-Wide website, visit: 

https://country-wide.co.nz/a-foot-in-the-door-ask-the-experts/

 

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