How big is big enough?

[rockridgecattle]

I have been assuming that his father was dead, since he was asking us what a cow on that ranch would clear and admitted that he never knew what his dad cleared per cow.

Very possible, but there are there is still the issue of siblings and mom. Succession planning only gets worse if the plan was not put into place before a parent dies. The tax issues, legal, will, and so much more. Even if there were machinery loans in the father's name or land loans.