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Yesterday, the “life insurance man” stopped by the farm to update our information post-marriage. It felt a little funny to be discussing one another’s death after just one month of marriage. Right now, our lives seem so bright & full of possibility. Who wants to talk about such heavy topics in such a happy season of life?Blachford-20

Even though we are just one month & two days into our marriage – I hope that John & I can take a proactive approach to the heavy topics we discussed yesterday: retirement savings, life insurance policies and estate planning. I often write about my joy in the farming lifestyle. But, I also realize that there are few things that steal away joy like financial insecurity.

Most people prefer to be private about their finances. I respect that decision. The Farm Journal Legacy Project highlights the estate planning process of individual farming families throughout the United States. The families involved in the project sacrifice their privacy in order to serve as examples for others in the agricultural community. Their case studies serve as hopeful stories to families struggling with planning for multi-generation farming operations.

DSCN1157I am happy to see an increase in dialogue regarding this topic. Ag publications, like Farm Journal, are no longer silent about this serious issue. I hope that farming families, like John and I, will follow suit.

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4 Comments

  1. Uncle Jon

    Sierra, is the last photo of you and John taken on your new farm? If so… start planting some trees please… that just looks all wrong. Might I suggest that a good Osage Orange tree line would be a wonderful addition to your new home. ;->\

    Reply
    • Sierra Shea

      Haha! We actually took this photo about 3 hours west of us near a ranch in Pierre. We took the photo last year when we went to look at the Red Angus heifers for Dad. I set the camera on a FENCE POST and used the timer to take the photo. Not a tree in sight.

      Reply
  2. Meredith

    When Chad and I discuss this type of thing, I feel like I am pretending to be a grown up. 🙂
    Great post and great pics!

    Reply
    • Sierra Shea

      Yes! That’s a great way to put it. It’s so surreal.

      Reply

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Hey, I’m Sierra Shea! I am so glad you are here. 

Where do I start with writing to introduce this blog? At the beginning, I suppose: I’ve been writing on various platforms online since 2013. I started blogging shortly after moving to South Dakota.

I am a mother and a maker at heart. I’m so grateful to be married to John and mother of three: Joslyn, J.D. and Jesse.

I am a self-taught decorator and designer. I am a brand new shepherdess and a Spiritual Director.

I love living in South Dakota, even though the winters & the wind can be a near-daily struggle.

Blogging is a grounding force in my life and it helps get me out of my head, unstuck and moving in the directions I always hoped I’d be going!