Soft Skills for Accessing Farmland
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EmailJuly 7, 2026
Soft skills are often referred to as people skills or abilities that help define how you interact with others to navigate various situations. These are not technical skills but are more subjective and focus on behaviors around communication, empathy, and adaptability. For farmers and landowners seeking to develop a successful leasing arrangement, soft skills can help foster positive discussions towards that mutual goal.
In this video, MSU Extension Educator Cheyenne Sloan moderates a discussion between fellow educator Chris Bardenhagen and a local farmer to discuss how soft skills can aid in farmland leasing discussions. Topics include:
- Communicating my needs
- Understanding and addressing the other party's goals
- Active listening
- Establishing a personal connection
- Ability to identify challenges and risk for all parties
- Flexibility and openness to alternative solutions
- Additional considerations for buying farmland
This video is part of an NCR-SARE grant project in partnership with Michigan State University Extension and MIFarmLink.