EPISODE ONE
A Diagnosis and a Deadline
When Howie Hammond learned he might only have months to live, he and his daughter Andrea had to make quick decisions about the future of their family's farm and ranch. In the Milk River Valley of northern Montana, the Hammonds' story shows how one family's health scare catalyzed the difficult conversations about succession that many rural families avoid until it’s too late.
From urgent meetings with their lawyer and accountant, to long days spent side by side in the field, Howie and Andrea share what it took to move from uncertainty to a plan that keeps the family farm intact.
Photo by Morgan Ellis
Guests
Howie Hammond
Howie has farmed and ranched for more than 45 years in Montana’s Milk River Valley, near Malta. Alongside his wife JoAnn, he built a family operation that now spans thousands of acres of rangeland and cropland. Following a rare muscle disease diagnosis, Howie began publicly speaking to families around Montana about succession and the importance of early planning for farm families. He continues to be an active mentor to his daughter and son-in-law, guiding the transition to the Hammond Ranch’s next generation.
Andrea Lien
Andrea manages Hammond Ranch with her husband Wyatt and her parents, Howie and JoAnn. After earning a business degree from Rocky Mountain College in Billings then working for a credit union in Rapid City, South Dakota, she returned home to continue her family’s agricultural legacy.