American Family Farmer with Doug Stephan welcomes Kevin Channell, principal owner of Farm & Forest Business & Tax Services, for an insightful conversation about the financial realities facing today’s farmers, foresters, and rural business owners.

Kevin brings a rare dual perspective to his work—combining firsthand farming experience with deep expertise in business analysis, valuations, and farm-specific tax strategy. Before advising others, Kevin and his wife, Laura, owned and operated Your Farm in Vermont, producing and selling food directly to retail and wholesale markets for seven years. That experience, along with raising a family and eventually transitioning the farm to new owners, gave Kevin a clear understanding of how difficult it can be for farmers to step back and see the full financial picture while managing day-to-day operations.

Today, Kevin continues to live the realities of agriculture as a co-owner of Whiskey Run Wagyu in southern Indiana, where his family raises Wagyu beef cattle and operates a farm stay near Louisville, Kentucky. At the same time, he helps farm and forest owners across the country gain clarity through objective business assessments, enterprise analysis, business valuations, and proactive tax planning.

In this episode, Doug and Kevin discuss why many farmers struggle to evaluate profitability, the importance of third-party financial analysis, how business valuations play a critical role in succession and transition planning, and why year-round tax strategy (not last-minute filing) can make or break a farm’s financial future.

Whether you’re a multigenerational farmer, a new landowner, or planning the next phase of your operation, this conversation offers practical insight to help you make informed, confident decisions for your farm and family.

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