How to Improve Ecological Outcomes, Profitability, and Quality of Life on Your Farm or Ranch Through Holistic Decision-Making
A successful agricultural operation is a successful business. To run a successful business, you need good decision makers and a clear decision-making process. In this 4-hour workshop you will learn how to integrate the holistic decision-making process into your business processes so you can make decisions that align with your values and help prioritize your time and your financial investments. This experiential workshop will give you lots of opportunity to learn how to apply the 7 testing questions so you will quickly know whether a decision will move you toward your desired outcomes or away from them.
This workshop will be facilitated by long-time HMI Certified Educator and farmer Brian Wehlburg from Australia and Anne Phillips HMI Educator and grassfed dairy producer from New York.
You will learn:
• How to set a holistic goal/context to clarify values and vision
• 7 Testing questions that act as information filters
• How to create effective meetings and decision-making processes
• How to apply those testing questions to a variety of situations
• How to handle conflict or difference of opinions in a group
• How to improve group or family communication
• How to address analysis paralysis
• How to follow up on actions taken with proactive monitoring
Questions? Contact anna@holisticmanagement.org.
Brian Wehlburg is a Certified Educator with Holistic Management International and a certified Master Field Professional with the Savory Institute and a board member of Holistic Management International and the Holistic Management Co-operative. While originally born in Zimbabwe, Brian emigrated to Australia. Since arriving in Australia Brian has broadened his hands-on experience, working for a pastoral enterprise in Southwest Queensland as a pasture and cattle manager and grazing consultant and managing a stacked enterprise grazing property in New South Wales. He enjoys sharing his passion for environmental improvement and grazing management. Brian has much experience working in a team with people from different cultures and backgrounds. This, together with his passion for Holistic Management allows him to create an atmosphere of trust within a group, enabling the diverse participants to actively contribute towards positive outcomes. He is motivated by seeing the positive change that Holistic Management can bring to people’s lives and livelihoods.
Anne Phillips and her husband Jim milk 135 crossbred cows on their 315 acre farm in Marathon, NY. They have been operating as a seasonal dairy for almost 30 years; certified organic since 2007; 100% grass-fed certified since 2014 and in 2025 became a certified Regenerative dairy. The Phillips ship their 100% A2 milk to the Origin Nutrition company. Anne and Jim also raise 50 Dorset sheep for meat sales, mainly targeting the Easter market. Anne would like to diversify more—get back into producing beef and pork for direct market channels, and possibly even open a farm-store, but for now, she is too busy with furthering her education in the areas of Permaculture and Regenerative Soils along with her consulting and involvement with HMI as a Holistic Management Educator.