January/February 2023 - 7

COVER STORY
Keenan Farms has stringent in-house
quality requirements. Pistachio grading
standards in the U.S. allow for .25%
foreign material for in-shell, and .03-.1%
for shelled. The company uses stricter
grading tolerances than industry
standards and recently invested in
the latest technology to automate the
assurance of this level of quality control.
Elizabeth has caught up quickly with hands-on experience
in the business.
" For kids who might be interested in taking over a
family business, leave your options open, but if you're
considering higher education, study something that's
going to be useful whether or not you pursue that family
business, " Elizabeth said.
Farm succession plans can get tricky, especially in
families where next generations are not interested in
farming. But this isn't the case with Keenan Farms.
The Keenans began with conversations early about the
continuation of the family's legacy. Not only did Elizabeth
and Mitchell grow up around the processing plant as young
kids and then work in the business during high school
summers, but the family foresaw some potential challenges
and tackled them proactively.
" My dad was always pretty transparent with how he
envisioned the future of the business, but he always left
room for us to do something else, " said Elizabeth. " That
open communication was so important. "
It was an opportunity available if the next generation
wanted to have it, but there weren't going to be hurt
feelings if they declined.
Mitchell knew from his early years in high school that
he wanted to go into the family business. In college, he
majored in agriculture business, and it has been a smooth
decision and transition for him, giving him a solid start in
the business. Elizabeth explored other options - studying
English on a pre-law track that carried equal parts
creative and professional writing - with the potential
goal of lobbying for agricultural producers. It was helpful
for learning contract writing and negotiation, as well as
marketing. Though agriculture wasn't her focus in college,
Being realistic about what individual family members'
futures need to look like can be helpful in avoiding
potentially tense business transitions. Do the members of
the next generation want to work from home and/or run
the family business remotely? Will the business require
a lot of travel, thus preventing a hands-on, physical
presence in the office?
Knowledgeable leadership
For the siblings, Mitchell is seen more often on-site
around the processing plant, and Elizabeth may be away
more often for industry events, committee meetings,
networking and sales functions. With her role being a
unique one in the family's operation - all the marketing
for Keenan Farms is currently handled by her and her
mother - there must be additional communication with
her teams.
" There are a lot of moving parts to this business, "
Mitchell said. " It's important for our whole team, not just
the Keenans, to have a good grasp on everything going on.
It's cool to see how much our employees care about what
they do, and what other departments are doing. "
Building and maintaining leadership skills are a constant
priority for the family, regardless of if those skills stay
within the family business. Not only can leadership
transitions to the next generation be tricky amongst family
members, but it can also affect employees and other
industry relations.
" Stepping into a role and being good at it is important
regardless of whom you work for, " Elizabeth said, " but
I'd say it's twice as important if you're working for your
family's business because you have your name on it. "
NATIONALNUTGROWER.COM 7
http://www.NATIONALNUTGROWER.COM
January/February 2023

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