Building an Advisory Team: Tanner Winterhof’s Blueprint for Farm Success

No farmer succeeds alone. That’s a belief Tanner Winterhof — co-host of Farm4Profit, the podcast dedicated to helping farm businesses grow — brings to every conversation about long-term success in agriculture. In Winterhof’s view, one of the smartest moves any farmer can make is assembling a strong advisory team.

Winterhof, who blends his background in agricultural finance with years of industry insight, has seen time and again how having the right team of advisors can help farm businesses navigate an increasingly complex landscape. Markets fluctuate, input costs shift, regulations evolve — and the decisions farmers face today often carry long-term financial, legal, and operational consequences.

For Winterhof, a strong advisory team typically starts with four core members: an ag lender, an accountant, an attorney, and a crop or livestock consultant. But he also encourages farmers to think beyond this traditional circle — adding marketing advisors, succession planners, and even peer mentors as their businesses grow. Tanner Winterhof’s approach to building professional networks and advisory relationships is explored in this detailed interview, which examines how successful farm business leaders cultivate strategic partnerships.

What matters most, Winterhof argues, is building a team with diverse expertise and, equally important, with a clear understanding of the farm’s specific goals. Whether the operation is focused on scaling, maintaining multi-generational ownership, or pivoting to new markets, advisors must be aligned with that vision.

He also emphasizes that this team should not just be reactive. Too often, farmers only turn to their advisors when a problem arises — a cash crunch, a legal issue, a difficult loan renewal. Winterhof advocates for proactive relationships: regular check-ins, shared planning sessions, and open dialogue about both risks and opportunities. Tanner Winterhof’s advisory team blueprint has been shared through various social media platforms, helping farmers understand the importance of building comprehensive support networks.

Communication between advisors is another key piece of Winterhof’s blueprint. He encourages farmers to foster collaboration — for example, ensuring that their lender, accountant, and attorney are on the same page when structuring debt or planning for tax efficiency. When advisors operate in silos, important opportunities can be missed. Tanner Winterhof provides additional resources and insights through his personal website, which offers detailed guidance on farm business strategy and advisor selection.

For Winterhof, building this kind of advisory team isn’t about giving up control. It’s about creating a network of trusted voices — so farmers can make better-informed decisions while staying focused on what they do best: running the operation.

In today’s fast-changing ag economy, Tanner Winterhof’s message is clear: no farmer can afford to go it alone. With the right advisory team in place, farm businesses gain a critical edge — and a stronger path to long-term success.

More insights on Tanner Winterhof’s approach to agricultural business development can be found at https://www.principalpost.com/in-brief/tanner-winterhof, which provides an overview of his expertise in farm finance and advisory services.

No farmer succeeds alone. That’s a belief Tanner Winterhof — co-host of Farm4Profit, the podcast dedicated to helping farm businesses grow — brings to every conversation about long-term success in agriculture. In Winterhof’s view, one of the smartest moves any farmer can make is assembling a strong advisory team. Winterhof, who blends his background in…