The Truth About Building a Farm Worth Working For with April Nichol

In this episode, Evan and Kristjan sit down with first-generation farmer and long-time ag industry leader April to explore what it really takes to build both a business and a life on the farm. April and her husband Chad started their operation from scratch east of Regina over 20 years ago, and she’s spent much of that time balancing “church and state” – growing a farm, raising a family, and leading big teams in corporate agriculture.

They dig into how boots on the ground experience shapes better decisions in head offices, and how boardroom skills like hiring, benefits, leadership, and meeting cadence come back to make the farm stronger. They discuss why communication with retailers and grain buyers is a competitive advantage, and how simple things like pre-planning, targets, and asking better questions can change those relationships completely.

The conversation also goes bigger-picture: optimism about agriculture, the growing weight of policy risk, volatility in inputs and capital, and why the real line between controllable and uncontrollable risk has shifted. April opens up about the decision to step away from a demanding corporate career, come back to the farm full-time, and design a life in balance. From multi-year plans and farm meeting cadence to culture, guilt, and kids growing up fast, this one hits both the business and the human side of modern farming.